GPS will warn drivers about curves
By: Drivers.com staff
Date: 2009-07-26
Years ago, driver education courses used to warn novice drivers about the dangers of "velocitization," � a deceptive sense that you are driving much more slowly than you really are after an extended period of driving at high speeds. Velocitization is particularly dangerous to drivers coming off motorways into sharply-curved ramps.
Over the years, road design features have been developed to counter the effect. One example of this was transverse lines painted across lanes that were intended to give an enhanced impression of speed to slowing drivers.
Now Nissan has come up with an adaptation of GPS technology to potentially resolve this issue. Nissan calls it the 'Navigation-Cooperative Intelligent Pedal', and it works like this: Your GPS, in conjunction with your map system, knows where the curves are. If you are driving too fast into a curve your car's computer system can give you an auditory warning.
However, there�s more to Nissan�s system than that. In combination with Nissan's Active Stability Assist, the car's brakes, steering and engine react to bring the vehicle�s speed into line with safe requirements for the curve.
Braking and torque are managed at each wheel to optimize the vehicle's cornering.
However, so far the system is only promised in Nissan's latest Fuga model (called the Infiniti M35 in North America), which is to be unveiled at the Toyko Auto Show in the Fall of 2009.
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