Depending on the city or town that you live it there are generally options for commuting to work. There is public transportation such as a bus, trolley, subway, or train. There is the environmental transportation such as by bike or on foot, and there is the preferred method of transportation which is generally by a personal vehicle. The problem with personally driving everywhere is that traffic jams can become rather frustrating because you are able to do little more than wait and stare at the line of vehicles blocking your way. Volvo has now come-up with a resolution to this problem, and it could be a game changer not only for commuters but for traffic in general.
Volvo ADS System
The formal name is Volvo's Autonomous Driving Support system, but it is more commonly referred to as the ADS system. This feature, which should begin to appear in vehicles as early as 2014, is a must-have for any major commuter. Anyone who drives to and from work every day in heavy traffic can tell you not only how frustrating it is but how often they see accidents simply because a driver was not paying attention to the flow of traffic. The ADS system can take over all of these issues for you and control the vehicle. The steering, brake, and accelerator all can be controlled by the ADS system.
The reason for the installation of the system is to help improve the gas mileage of the vehicle as well as avoid accidents. Volvo is convinced that they will be able to slowly add safety features to the point that they will be able to build what is considered to be a "no death" vehicle. The new ADS system is a giant step forward for it will be able to read other vehicles even if they do not have a sensor installed. This will allow your vehicle to speed up or slow down based on what the vehicle is doing in front of you.
The ADS system is as easy to activate as cruise control. You just simply push the button to engage the system, and you can then tap the gas, brake, or take the steering wheel to disengage and return to manual driving. Cruise control is helpful on long road trips, but is not very helpful in sitting traffic. The new system will not only control your speed, but the actual vehicle. This is not a system that is being marketed as a self-driving vehicle. It is targeting those individuals that are often stuck in rush hour traffic.
ADS vs. SARTRE System
It can be confusing what the difference is between the ADS system and the SARTRE system, and it is actually one key ingredient, sensors. The SARTRE system will only work with other vehicles that have the SARTRE system and contain the sensors. The ADS system works with any vehicle no matter what. The ADS is one of Volvo's first steps toward the "no death" vehicle which they hope to have established within the next decade.