Sharing Vehicle and Bicycle Locations via the Volvo Cloud

With European bicycle fatalities showing that half are caused by collisions with cars, and nearly 50,000 people dying in bicycle accidents annually in the United States, Volvo has become the first automaker to develop safety technology aimed at achieving zero collisions between cars and bicycles, enabling them to avoid each other. Volvo's new XC90 comes standard with safety technology that detects potential collisions with bicycles, warns the driver, and applies automatic braking if necessary to avoid an impact.

The newly developed system alerts both drivers and cyclists when their distances become critically close, prompting them to avoid a collision. This is achieved through the use of vehicles and bicycle helmets capable of mutual communication. By utilizing smartphone apps, which are popular among cyclists, the locations of bicycles and vehicles can be shared with each other via the Volvo cloud. If a bicycle is present around a blind corner or in a vehicle's blind spot, a warning will appear on the Volvo head-up display, alerting the driver to the approaching cyclist. Simultaneously, the cyclist receives a warning through lights and vibrations on their helmet, encouraging both parties to avoid a collision.