In the United States and Europe, more than 40,000 people are killed each year in automobile accidents.  A new study from ABI Research reveals that the active safety features under development to address many of the causes of accidents may become more affordable, thanks to recent advances in camera technology.

”All major suppliers are actively working on camera-based sensing technology,” says senior analyst David Alexander.  “But they don’t all agree on which applications will be first to take off in the market, or even which are best suited for camera sensors.”

As lower-cost cameras meet performance targets, there is good news regarding the potential for some new safety features in mainstream models.  The new report finds that automobile manufacturers are getting ready to take advantage of a number of different approaches to obstacle detection, and that cameras will be used in isolation and in parallel with other sensor technologies.

“As functionality improves, and image processing technology matures, the long-term future for automotive cameras is very positive,” says Alexander.  ”The first OEMs to make low-cost, active safety systems available to the mass market should reap huge rewards and will help improve road safety for everyone.”

Almost every active safety system under current development has a camera sensor penciled into its future.  Market interest could bode well for Tier One system developers such as Visteon, Siemens, Bosch, Continental, Hella, Iteris, Valeo, and coordinated media coverage (with help from government agencies) would deliver strong demand for the technology.