Auto Emergency Braking Could Be Final Nail in Coffin for Manual Transmissions

[bluedigger]

Over the last half-century, there have been numerous technological developments in the automotive industry that we today take for granted but in some way or another were influenced by government regulation. Whether it’s catalytic converters, fuel injection, airbags, or antilock brakes, many of these technologies came into being to meet increasingly stringent government regulations. The sometimes antagonistic relationship between the industry and regulators appears to have made a more cordial turn, with automakers representing 99 percent of U.S. sales pledging to make automatic emergency braking (AEB) standard on virtually all vehicles under 8,501 pound gross vehicle weight (GVW) by 2022. Trucks with a GVW between 8,501 and 10,000 pounds will have the technology by 2025.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is claiming this voluntary pledge will bring the technology to the market faster than would have been possible through the conventional regulatory process. NHTSA is claiming the implementation of AEB on passenger cars could potentially prevent 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries. One possible complication for the implementation of AEB across the line is vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. Sudden braking for a vehicle in gear would stall the engine and require a restart.

Except for some high-performance and entry-level models, manual transmissions are becoming exceedingly rare in the U.S. market. The widespread implementation of emergency braking could effectively regulate the manual transmission out of existence. The new Ford Focus RS features a rapid restart feature on its manual transmission, which could become a requirement of three-pedal manuals in the near future to comply with the mandate.

Source: NHTSA
http://www.fourwheeler.com/news/1603-auto-emergency-braking-could-be-final-nail-in-coffin-for-manual-transmissions/

[Wilms]

1. If it can step on the brake, why can't it step on the clutch?

Of course that will cost a bit more.

[tk2kewl]

2. Was my thought too

I assume emergency breaking already cuts acceleration to idle

[Wilms]

3. I poked around.

If I'm reading this right, the VW Golf and Passat can do it...(in some markets?).

The latest-generation Golf went on sale in the U.K. in January 2013. All except for the entry-level S models have standard adaptive cruise control that includes the radar-sensor-controlled distance-monitoring system Front Assist, as well as city emergency braking.

Volkswagen says although such systems are not new, it was the Golf that brought ACC to a wide audience.

The system operates over a wide speed range of 18-99 mph (30-160 km/h) with either a manual gearbox or DSG automatic.

http://wardsauto.com/miscellaneous/emergency-braking-works-uk-accident-data-shows

And...

The safety feature will be standard on nearly all new cars weighing 8,500 pounds or less by September 2022. Some light-duty vehicles, like those equipped with manual transmissions, will get extra time to incorporate automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/03/automatic-emergency-braking-to-become-standard-by-2022.html

But the point may be they'll run out the clock and them stop offering manuals.

[Fumesucker]

4. The computer just brought your car to a dead stop in the middle of the road

And your problem is restarting the engine?

What's wrong with this picture?

Also, given the development of mechanical actuators in the last hundred years having the computer disengage the clutch is hardly rocket surgery.