Deer Caught in the Headlights? Your Car May Soon See Them
Volvo, the Swedish automaker, started equipping several 2017 models, like its XC90 sport utility vehicle, with software
that allows its forward-looking radar and cameras to identify large deer entering or crossing a roadway.
“The radar detects if there’s an object and the camera confirms it is a deer by comparing what
it sees to thousands of images of large animals,” said Jim Nichols, a Volvo spokesman.
If no action is taken, the car automatically slows or stops.”
Audi will introduce a new A8 sedan this summer with radar and other sensors
that should stop the car from hitting large animals if they are standing in the roadway.
“I didn’t see any fur on the bumper so I guess I didn’t hit him, but it was close.”
Automakers have already developed technologies to prevent cars from crashing into other vehicles
and to recognize pedestrians entering and crossing a roadway.
Toyota’s technology is based on more than three years of research on the back roads of Virginia
and Montana, a stint at a deer sanctuary in Michigan, and months of crunching data from studies of car and deer encounters.
“All of a sudden I see this little blip dart out, and it’s a little one running after the mother,” Mr. LaPointe said.