Cadillac XTS: Advanced Tech Systems Enhance Vision

Image by benhinc via Flickr

Using a strategy it calls control and alert, Cadillac will debut a network of cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors on the all-new 2013 XTS to bolster driver vision and awareness of road hazards and intervene to help avert potential crashes.
In some cases, Cadillac’s enhanced vision and sensing systems will act without the driver, such as though automatic braking based on information indicating potential obstacles.
“New technology in the XTS is intended to extend the vision around the car, helping drivers identify obstacles and, when necessary, take action to assist them in avoiding a collision,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. “Cadillac expands its lineup dramatically in 2012, led by the new XTS, and this suite of technologies is a central component of it.”
The new XTS contains several features using visual and audible alerts  designed to identify potential threats with sufficient warning for the driver to react and make changes. One example is the Safety Alert Seat feature, which vibrates either the left or right side of the driver’s seat cushion depending on the location of the impending concern. Intervening features, such as automatic braking, take action automatically if the driver is slow to initially react.
The advanced safety features and benefits include:
Front and Rear Automatic Brakes – Using “virtual bumpers” that rely on short-range radar technology and ultrasonic sensors, this feature helps prevent front and rear low-speed collisions via a progression of alerts that extends to complete braking if necessary. For example: If the vehicle is headed toward a small pillar inside a garage or a lamppost on a city street, the system will alert about the hard-to-spot item and stop the vehicle to help prevent an impact.
Adaptive Cruise Control – Using radar technology, this feature can apply limited braking or acceleration to maintain a selected following distance to the vehicle ahead.
Intelligent Brake Assist – Detects a panic-braking situation and assists the driver by applying brake force more quickly to help stop sooner.
Forward Collision Alert – Radar and camera technology detects a possible collision threat and alerts the driver, giving him or her time to stop and/or change course.
Safety Alert Seat – A vibration on either the left or right side of the driver’s seat cushion, depending on the location of the impending concern, alerts the driver to a potential collision threat.
Automatic Collision Preparation – When the XTS senses a collision is imminent, braking is applied to lessen the severity or perhaps even enable the driver to avoid the incident.
Lane Departure Warning – A camera-based lane detection system that warns the driver of unsignaled lane changes. The camera, mounted near the inside rearview mirror, identifies traffic lane markings and provides audible alerts or activates the Safety Alert Seat.
Side Blind Zone Alert – Using radar sensors on both sides of the vehicle, the system “looks” for other vehicles in the blind zone areas of the XTS and indicates their presence with LED-lit symbols in the outside mirrors.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert – Using radar sensors of the side blind zone alert system, it warns the driver of oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking spot – including angled parking. Visual and audible alerts are triggered if moving vehicles are detected.
Adaptive Forward Lighting – With adaptive forward lighting, the headlamps swivel with direction of the front wheels to maintain forward lighting in concert with vehicle steering.
Rear Vision Camera With Dynamic Guidelines – With a display in the center stack, the camera provides a view of objects directly behind the XTS, with dynamic guide lines laid over the video image to assist in parking maneuvers.
Behind the new technology, XTS has a strong body structure and 10 standard air bags. Other standard safety features include:

• Dual-stage frontal driver air bag
• Dual-stage frontal passenger air bag with passenger sensing system
• Driver and front passenger side-impact air bars
• Driver and front passenger knee air bags
• Outboard head curtain air bags, front and rear, with rollover sensing
• Outboard rear thorax air bags
• Safety belt pretensioners and load limiters
• Child seat LATCH system
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control
• Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel antilock brakes.

Standard OnStar
XTS features OnStar as standard. It uses GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of collision. OnStar service also includes myCadillac and OnStar myLink mobile apps, which offer vehicle information and OnStar services via the customer’s smartphone.