Cupra, the Spanish-based performance and electric car maker, has said that it's going to join in with Volkswagen's efforts to use live data from the sensors fitted to cars to help create safety alerts for all drivers.
What kind of tech are we talking about?
Well, the likes of the Cupra Tavascan and Born, and in short order the new Raval small electric crossover, are festooned with radar sensors and cameras, all designed to watch the road ahead and around you, to help keep you safe as you drive. The idea here is that your car's sensor data could help to keep everyone else safe, too.
How does that work?
It's actually kind of simple, really. All of these Cupra models are connected to the cloud at all times anyway - it's how you get your over-the-air software updates - so the idea is that by using the data from your sensors and cameras, a high-definition picture of the road, in real-time, can be built up.
This helps in a couple of ways. Over time, better and more precise data can be gathered on each road that a Cupra model drives along, leading to a better understanding of how sharp a given corner is, or what sort of condition the road surface is in.
The same data can be used in more immediate terms, such as if you were to hit a patch of ice, triggering your traction and stability control, then that information can be broadcast to other cars in the area, warning their drivers of that specific icy patch.
Any other benefits?
Yes, over time, Cupra wants to use this data to better design and 'train' its electronic safety aids. It's known that many drivers are switching off electronic safety aids at the moment, frustrated because the likes of speed limit detection and lane-keeping steering seem to be too inaccurate and even erratic. Cupra wants to use the information gathered by its cars to refine those systems and to turn them into something that drivers will want to keep active, rather than pushing the 'off' button in annoyance.
Cupra has also said that it's focusing, for the moment, on "particular scenarios where driver assistance systems are especially useful. These can include traffic situations involving cyclists and pedestrians, such as intersection traffic near a school, or busy, complex supermarket parking lots.”
"It's incredibly important, especially for vulnerable road users. The vehicle should analyse movements at pedestrian crossings and sidewalks as accurately as possible. If the camera detects pedestrians moving toward the street - for instance, playing children - the vehicle can proactively build up brake pressure to enable even faster braking in an emergency,” said Cupra, in a statement.
Should we be concerned about data privacy here?
Cupra says that its customers' data will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and anonymity. According to Cupra: "Continuous data transmission for this purpose does not take place. Data transmission can be triggered by the emergency braking assistant, manual full braking, and sudden evasive manoeuvres. Certain sensor, functional, and image data are particularly relevant in these cases. These include camera images of the vehicle's surroundings and detection results from the environment sensors, as well as driving direction, speed, and steering angle. Information on weather, visibility, and lighting conditions also plays an important role.”
Cupra also said that all data protection regulations are, of course, strictly observed and implemented, and customers will have to opt-in to the system, giving their consent for the data to be collected. That can be done through the Cupra App, and you can also withdraw your consent if you decide to.