TRW Automotive has demonstrated its Emergency Steering Assist (ESA) system on a prototype vehicle at an event at the Hockenheimring, Germany.

ESA helps support the driver in an emergency situation, when an evasive steering manoeuvre is initiated, by applying an additional steering torque during the manoeuvre and assisting the driver in lateral vehicle guidance. If a driver of a vehicle travelling at a high speed, has passed the point where braking would prevent a collision, the ESA assists the driver to steer the vehicle and take evasive action to prevent a collision.

How does it work?

ESA integrates data from TRW's video camera and radar sensors to provide an accurate and real-time image of the road ahead, with an interface to the electrically powered steering (EPS) system. Dr Carsten Hass, engineering manager, Integrated Active & Passive Safety Systems, TRW, commented: "Emergency Steering Assist is our next step in collision avoidance. For example, if you swerve to avoid an obstacle, the system will calculate the optimal trajectory around it and additional steering torque will be applied to help to follow the trajectory and stabilize the car. The driver remains in control of the vehicle and can override the system at all times. ESA is designed to enhance the driver response by helping the driver to react faster and more accurately."

TRW has developed the system together with the TU Dortmund (Technische Universität Dortmund) and anticipates that the technology will be ready for production in 2017 for 2018 model year applications.

Automakers such as Continental in 2010 and Nissan in 2012, have already unveiled similar technologies. With Electronic Stability Control becoming a norm due to legislation in Europe, it won’t be too long before ESA too, begins to be implemented and integrated in automobiles.