- ASV (Advanced Safety Vehicle)
The ASV (Advanced Safety Vehicle) project was launched in 1991 in order to incorporate advanced technologies in vehicles for greater safety. The ASV Promotion Study Group, set up jointly by the Ministry of Transport, experts and academics, and automakers, has conducted the project. The first phase was completed in FY 1995, and the second phase (from FY 1996 to 2000) is well underway.
In the second phase, the scope of research has been expanded to include trucks, buses and motorcycles, and so the number of participating automakers increased from 9 to 13. Two more development areas, namely autonomous driving technologies and fundamental automotive technologies, have been added as major safety technology fields, bringing the total to six areas comprising 32 systems.
Technologies such as automated following distance control driving system, drowsiness warning system, and tire air pressure warning system have already been implemented. By the early 21st Century when the second phase will end, ASVs equipped with comprehensive safety technologies will be developed for practical use.

Status of safety equipment installation (passenger cars)
Number of vehicles manufactured in 1998: 4,459,323

Safety equipment	Number of vehicles equipped with the system	Ratio
Traction control system	176,599	4.0%
Stability control system	124,856	2.8%
Tire air pressure warning system	267,892	6.0%
Automated following distance control driving system	5,298	0.1%
Drowsiness warning system	16,643	0.4%

Reference: Current Status and Prospects for Vehicle Technologies Related to ITS (in Japanese; edited by the Office of the ASV Promotion Study Group, Road Transport Bureau, Ministry of Transport, June 1996)

Adaptive cruise control for maintaining a constant following distance Radar Cruise Control (Toyota Motor Corporation; PROGRES) The laser radar and other sensors installed in the bumper detect a vehicle immediately in front and its driving lane, and the engine power and gear will be controlled by the system to maintain a safe distance. Lights are used to warn drivers if the two cars come too close. The vehicle returns to its set speed when the forward vehicle moves out of the lane or increases its speed. Adaptive Cruise Control System with Braking Control Capability (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.; Cima) The system automatically controls the brake and throttle to accelerate or decelerate the vehicle based on the information obtained with a millimeter-wave radar sensor installed in the front grille of the vehicle. It keeps the vehicle speed below a set value in order to maintain the distance between the vehicles constant. The system status is shown on the meter display and a vehicle distance warning is provided. The millimeter-wave radar sensor can be used even in rain, which makes the system highly practical. Millimeter-wave rader sensor Display Intelligent Highway Cruise Control (Honda Motor Co., Ltd.; Avancier) A laser radar sensor installed in the front grille of the vehicle detects a vehicle ahead, and the system controls the brake and throttle according to the speed of the vehicle in front in order to maintain a constant vehicle distance. When the vehicle in front suddenly slows down or stops, the brake is automatically applied. If the driver still needs to apply the brake, flashing lights and sound warn the driver. The vehicle returns to its set speed when the vehicle in front moves out of the lane or increases its speed. The system status is shown on the meter display. Laser radar Switches for setting the vehicle distance Preview Distance Control (Mitsubishi Motors Corporation; DIAMANTE) This is the world's first distance control system, and it came into use in 1995. When the laser radar sensor installed in the front bumper detects a vehicle ahead in the same lane, the system controls the engine power and gear to follow behind the vehicle in front at a safe distance. The driver is alerted with sound and lights if the two cars come too close. The vehicle returns to the initially set velocity when the forward vehicle moves out of the lane or increases its speed.

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