[jimj]

DETROIT – The 2012 GMC Terrain smaller SUV features the industry's first crash avoidance system that exclusively uses a single camera to help drivers avoid front-end and unsignalled lane departure crashes.

Terrain's new active safety system uses a high-resolution digital camera mounted on the windshield ahead of the rearview mirror that looks for shapes of vehicles and lane markings. The system uses audible warnings and a high-mounted visual display to warn the driver if he or she is following another vehicle too closely, when a collision is imminent, or when departing a lane without signaling first.

According to National Automotive Sampling System estimates, rear-end crashes account for approximately 28 percent of the nearly 6 million police-reported incidents that occur annually. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains that the majority of rear-end collisions involve driver inattention, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says forward collision warning systems have the potential to help prevent such crashes.

"Digital image sensors are used in just about everything from cameras to mobile phones to computers and this is making them a more-affordable alternative for use in vehicles," said Raymond Kiefer, General Motors Technical Fellow for crash avoidance systems. "By combining a digital camera with state-of-the-art image processing algorithms, we're able to estimate when a crash may be imminent."

So since the system is wonky at best how about some one come up with a hack that allows you to turn it into something useful like a dash cam? It truly baffles me why they'd think basically taping a cell phone to the back of the mirror hooked to lights and bells is any type of avoidance system.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

hyperv6,

Based on the information in my resources, the stability control system brake pressure modulator valve motor will pre-charge the brake hydraulic system in this event. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

Tricia, GM Customer Service.

 

[hyperv6]

hyperv6,

Based on the information in my resources, the stability control system brake pressure modulator valve motor will pre-charge the brake hydraulic system in this event. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

Tricia, GM Customer Service.

Thanks!

This is what I think GM is saying with out really coming out and stating it in simple terms.

The brake pressure modulator valve motor is part of the stability and anti lock system. It takes the place of the proportioning/modulator valve of older cars where it mostly is a distribution block that controls the flow to each corner of the car and the pressure balance to the front and rear. In it Is what helps keep more pressure to the front wheels vs. the back and keep the car stable under hard braking.

In the past this was a mechanical valve where today it has been electrified with a motor and is used to help control the brake system for the stability control by directing the pressure to the brake needed to control the car and also to keep the brakes from locking up.

The motor activates the pressure by controlling it and pulsing it to prevent the lock up of a skid and the pressure is controlled to each corner to prevent spin out.

I think what they are doing is once the camera senses the vehicle in the path of the car [or false alarm] the system will charge the motor in the system to preset the system to give you a fraction of a second faster braking and in a way to activate the brake just a little with the motor.

I believe that GM is choosing to use the term of precharge as not to give the false idea that the brakes are applying. While the system may have some pressure added it is not enough to stop the car. It more or less takes up a little slack in the reaction time for it to apply the pressure to the brakes. I too still wonder if they do a quick interrupt on the throttle too since it is electronic and would be easy to do so. They will not kill it but they could interrupt it for a fraction of a second.

In other words it is the cheap way of using the equipment to make the system faster reacting.

The long and short of it is in extreme cases of detection of a collision it will activate this motor in the brake system and it will make noise like the anti locks and kind of make the car hesitate. You then need to apply the brakes asap.

So in short if you have this system be ready for a false alarm and for it to scare the crap out of you the first time or two it activates. There is nothing wrong and this is just the pump activating.

 

[Supertester]

An additional benefit of having the brake pads "pre-charged" or slightly applied by the computer is... in rainy weather, the brake discs need to be wiped dry before efficient braking can occur. The system pre-charge performs just that. BTW: Mercedes Benz uses this system tied into the wiper operation, but performs it every so often...so you are always protected if a sudden brake application is required. I just wish GM Engineers would get to tell us all these details (like in a White - Paper), so we can appreciate the sweat equity they have put into these new GM Products.

 

[austin]

An additional benefit of having the brake pads "pre-charged" or slightly applied by the computer is... in rainy weather, the brake discs need to be wiped dry before efficient braking can occur. The system pre-charge performs just that. BTW: Mercedes Benz uses this system tied into the wiper operation, but performs it every so often...so you are always protected if a sudden brake application is required. I just wish GM Engineers would get to tell us all these details (like in a White - Paper), so we can appreciate the sweat equity they have put into these new GM Products.

Lol. Honestly I don't think they thought about it as much as you did haha. Not sure they were going for the wiping the disks dry. But hey, if it helps!


Sent from my bragging iPhone using an app that encourages it.

 

[hyperv6]

They are not really clearing the rotors. The precharge is just for faster reaction time for the brakes to activate.

Water is not really that much of an issue as it generally clears off pretty fast. between the presure and heat the water is not much of a factor to disc brakes as it is to a drum brake.

 

[Toshbu]

Near my home, I have to drive up a long hill with a fairly sharp turn towards the top. Here is what I experience from the FCA in my 2013 Equinox if the following two factors are met:
1) If traveling over 25mph
2) And if a large vehicle or motor home is parked on the right side it will activate due to the sharp turn.

What I observe and believe is happening mechanically is:
A) Radio mutes adn audible beeping is emitted along with visual warnigns on dash
B) I'm pretty sure the A/C Stops blowing.
C) Transmission seems to shift to neutral or perhaps up shifts
D) I hear and if my foot is on brake pedal, I feel anti-lock feedback

When I continue on by putting my foot down on the accelerator, the radio and air return, beeping stops, brake feedback ceases and the transmission down shifts.

Hope this helps somebody. :thumb:

 

[hyperv6]

False signals on curves happen even with out it being a camper or large object.

It does kill the radio sound and flash and make all sorts of noise that scares the crap out of you the first few times you get a false signal.

I have not notice anything with the AC.

The transmission does not shift or go into neutral as that would be a bad thing. But I believe the throttle has a slight interruption as this is drive by wire and they can interrupt it just enough to give you extra time to hit the brake. Now they do not kill the throttle but they can make it hesitate a little.

Yes the Anti lock is activated as they use this system to give you faster braking and less of a chance of a lock up.

Keep in mind this is not the same advances system the Cadillac's get and they used part of the brakes system that they already have with a cheaper camera system vs. radar sensing. The system to me need better sorted and is more annoying than helpful.

In time the Cadillac system will move to the cheaper cars and be more affordable and work better.

 

[Supertester]

GMC does sweat the details, fellow owner, however the Cadillac division gets the toys. Check out this item: " DETROIT – Electronic stability control systems like StabiliTrak are already proving to help prevent crashes. The 2012 Cadillac SRX wrings a new benefit from the system –removing water from brake components during wet highway driving conditions.

Drivers can feel more in control in soggy conditions because Auto Dry Brakes can help to improve overall brake effectiveness during rainy conditions on the highway.

Why does this technology matter? The U.S. Department of Transportation says 620,000 crashes on the nation’s roadways in 2009 – one in 10 – occurred in the rain.

“The important thing is to assure the brakes are as dry as possible before the driver applies the brake pedal,” said Randy Leek, a General Motors brake development engineer. “We designed this feature to ensure that the brakes provide optimal braking performance while driving in inclement weather.”

Auto Dry Brakes work with the SRX RainSense automatic windshield wiper system, or when the standard windshield wipers are operating, and the SRX has been traveling over 20 mph continuously for more than four miles without using the cruise control. A slight amount of hydraulic pressure is generated by the StabiliTrak hardware, which pulses pressure to the vehicle’s brake calipers at intervals to wipe water from the brake rotors while the car is moving.

With drier rotors, when the driver does apply the brakes, the brake system operates more effectively, giving a more-assured stopping feel and better brake effectiveness in wet conditions.

Auto Dry Brakes are designed to apply pressure to all four of the SRX’s disc brakes at roughly six kilometer intervals, while the accelerator is applied. The system works seamlessly with StabiliTrak, anti-lock brakes and traction control without the driver knowing anything is happening. "

 

[hyperv6]

GMC does sweat the details, fellow owner, however the Cadillac division gets the toys. Check out this item: " DETROIT – Electronic stability control systems like StabiliTrak are already proving to help prevent crashes. The 2012 Cadillac SRX wrings a new benefit from the system –removing water from brake components during wet highway driving conditions.

Drivers can feel more in control in soggy conditions because Auto Dry Brakes can help to improve overall brake effectiveness during rainy conditions on the highway.

Why does this technology matter? The U.S. Department of Transportation says 620,000 crashes on the nation’s roadways in 2009 – one in 10 – occurred in the rain.

“The important thing is to assure the brakes are as dry as possible before the driver applies the brake pedal,” said Randy Leek, a General Motors brake development engineer. “We designed this feature to ensure that the brakes provide optimal braking performance while driving in inclement weather.”

Auto Dry Brakes work with the SRX RainSense automatic windshield wiper system, or when the standard windshield wipers are operating, and the SRX has been traveling over 20 mph continuously for more than four miles without using the cruise control. A slight amount of hydraulic pressure is generated by the StabiliTrak hardware, which pulses pressure to the vehicle’s brake calipers at intervals to wipe water from the brake rotors while the car is moving.

With drier rotors, when the driver does apply the brakes, the brake system operates more effectively, giving a more-assured stopping feel and better brake effectiveness in wet conditions.

Auto Dry Brakes are designed to apply pressure to all four of the SRX’s disc brakes at roughly six kilometer intervals, while the accelerator is applied. The system works seamlessly with StabiliTrak, anti-lock brakes and traction control without the driver knowing anything is happening. "

You get what you pay for. The Caddy system will be standard in the not too distant future and they will have a more advanced system. It is the trickle down affect.

 

[vegasjim]

Have been reading reports here and find things confusing. Statements are made by all about the system response and effectiveness. Had a car cut me off on the freeway several days ago, the avoidance system flashed red and warning sound actuated and , although all data I have read says the brakes do not apply has me confused because when the avoidance syst. light and warning sounded my brakes applied noticeably, my auto slowed enough to prevent contact with the idiots car. Don't think it would have brought me to a stop but the slowdown was sufficient enough for me to have control and avoid an accident. Only question I have, is really, how should it work, the way it worked for me or the way it works for some of you folks?

 

[sidebite252]

Just wait until a bird swoops past your windshield! Holy cow! Delayed reaction in our 2012 and then the lights and alarms went off and the breaks applied. It was so out of wack and freaked me out so much that our system has been disarmed since that day. I'm with Hyper on this one - I just turned it off.

 

[hyperv6]

Have been reading reports here and find things confusing. Statements are made by all about the system response and effectiveness. Had a car cut me off on the freeway several days ago, the avoidance system flashed red and warning sound actuated and , although all data I have read says the brakes do not apply has me confused because when the avoidance syst. light and warning sounded my brakes applied noticeably, my auto slowed enough to prevent contact with the idiots car. Don't think it would have brought me to a stop but the slowdown was sufficient enough for me to have control and avoid an accident. Only question I have, is really, how should it work, the way it worked for me or the way it works for some of you folks?

That is it the system is not a system that will stop the car or prevent you on its own from hitting something.

What happens is the accelerator is interrupted and the Anti Lock system start to activate. In other works the solenoid I believe had power sent to it to react faster in preventing lock up. The solenoid pulses the brake fluid and that is what you feel the start of. After that it is up to you to apply the brakes and stop the car as it will not do anything more than the first pump to the system.

GM has to be careful on how they state this or some idiot will never hit the brake thinking that the system will stop him. There are some more advances system that can do this but not on a low buck system like this.

The system only buys you some time by getting the system to pre engage but it will not stop you or slow you enough to prevent a crash.

The bottom line someone pulls out and you hear the noise and see the lights still hit the pedal or eat an airbag. I have and the burns and cuts are not fun.

 

[Toddsta]

Collision avoidance, as implemented in the Chevy Equinox is nothing short of a 'joke.'

Don't waste your money if you are contemplating it as an option.

It doesn't 'warn' you of an impending accident until you are about 5 feet away from nailing the car in front of you - even with the 'distance' setting at 'maximum.' The 'Lane Departure' is a joke too...... it would be pretty neat except the default 'warning volume' is barely audible. Especially if the radio is on..... and to make it worse, they tied the volume adjustment of this 'warning tone' along with the audio volume of your turn signals. So, to have a 'lane depatrue tone' that might wake you up if you were dozing off, or not paying attention..... you have to have your 'turn signal' audio level set so that instead of a reasonable volume 'tick, tick, tick' ..... it sounds more like 'CLACK, CLACK, CLACK' to the mega extreme. It would drive you out of your mind while waiting to turn at a light.

Nobody sweats the details at GM..... this old saying is still partially true.