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• Technology
• NEWDec. 05, 2018

Daihatsu Launches Retrofit Safety Device that Prevents Sudden Unintended Accelerations Caused by Pedal Misapplication

Dec. 05, 2018
Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.

Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Daihatsu”) will launch “Tsukutsuku Boshi”, a retrofit safety device that prevents sudden unintended accelerations caused by pedal misapplications, nationwide on December 5. The device will be made available to owners of previously purchased Daihatsu vehicles.

“Tsukutsuku Boshi”—which means “push prevention” in Japanese—has been developed with the aim of reducing collision damage in cases of pedal misapplication. By retrofitting sonar sensors, controllers, indicators, and other equipment to existing vehicles, the device seeks to decrease the number of major accidents caused by erroneous driver operation.

In 2012, Daihatsu equipped the Smart Assist crash avoidance system to a mini vehicle for the first time^*1.Since then, the company has gradually enhanced the system’s functionality and expanded the range of models equipped with the system. At present, the third-generation Smart Assist III is available in both mini vehicles and compact cars^*2. Featuring crash avoidance braking functions and forward and backward erroneous start prevention functions, Smart Assist has been widely praised for its affordable pricing, and cumulative sales of vehicles equipped with Smart Assist have now exceeded two million units^*3.

Approximately 80 percent of Daihatsu vehicles in current use are not equipped with Smart Assist.
Daihatsu developed “Tsukutsuku Boshi” out of a desire both to enable as many people as possible—including customers who have previously bought its vehicles—to live energetic lives by going out in safety and with peace of mind, and to minimize the number of deaths and injuries caused by road accidents.

“Tsukutsuku Boshi” utilizes front and rear sonar sensors to detect obstacles within a three-meter range. If the driver presses the accelerator with great force and speed, the system infers that the pedal has been misapplied and moves to prevent sudden acceleration: the controller cuts off the fuel supply, thereby suppressing engine output, and alerts the driver via indicators that have been installed inside the cabin as well as a warning buzzer. The sonar sensors also incorporate parking sensor functions, and detect and alert drivers to obstacles front and rear that are in the driver’s blind spots.

Initially, starting today, “Tsukutsuku Boshi” will be made available for the second-generation Tanto (L375 and L385)^*4, which went on sale in December 2007 and which has sold in great numbers. The device will gradually be rolled out for other models in due course.

Based on its "Light you up" approach, going forwards Daihatsu will continue to provide optimal mobility to every one of its customers, and cater to their needs via its extended range of mini and compact
vehicles.

^*1According to research conducted by Daihatsu. Smart Assist was first equipped to the Move mini passenger vehicle in December 2012.
^*2Smart Assist III is equipped to all models in the Daihatsu line-up, excluding the Copen mini passenger vehicle
^*3As of November 30, 2018, according to research conducted by Daihatsu
^*4”Tsukutsuku Boshi” can be installed on Tanto L375 2WD and Tanto L385 4WD CVT models