Autoliv, a leader in automotive safety, this week participated in the inauguration of the world’s first fully equipped full-scale test track for traffic safety. The test site named AstaZero is located outside Borås, Sweden.
Autoliv has partnered with AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corp., Scania, and several Swedish institutions to create AstaZero. AstaZero is short for Active Safety Test Area Zero, where "zero" is the Swedish government’s stated vision of zero traffic fatalities.
"We are proud to be part of the creation of AstaZero, a unique state-of-the-art testing facility which will help to save lives," said Johan Löfvenholm, chief technology officer of Autoliv. "Many accidents and collisions can become avoidable through reducing human error. Autoliv’s efforts in active safety will be instrumental in paving the way for semi-automated and autonomous driving vehicles."
According to Autoliv, this state-of-the-art-facility is unique because not only is it connected to high-speed Internet, but different traffic environments make it possible to test advanced safety systems and their functions for all kinds of traffic and traffic situations.
AstaZero enables research, development and certification of future road safety systems, and functions as an international arena open for vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, legislators, universities and colleges from around the world. It is also unique in its simulation possibilities for increasing safety for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users.
During the opening day, Autoliv showcased several active safety technologies including a next generation radar system, next generation stereo vision system, night vision and autonomous emergency braking. The attendees watched demonstrations and had the ability to drive the test track and night test the features themselves.
The demonstrations showed how the use of radar, night vision and camera vision systems assist the driver to avoid an accident or, at least, reduce the speed of impact, thereby reducing the injuries sustained and saving more lives.
The new test track will now be put into service owned by SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden and Chalmers University of Technology. The test site is strategically placed in the center of the western Sweden automotive cluster and the assembled expertise that exists within the safety field.
Autoliv has 18 technical centers and 21 crash test tracks. AstaZero is a welcome new complement to its other state-of-the-art active safety test site in Vårgårda, Sweden. AstaZero was funded in cooperation with Autoliv, Volvo Cars, Volvo, Scania, and Transport Agency, Region Västra Götaland, Vinnova, the Growth Board and Test Site Sweden.
