An Evaluation of the Performance of the Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning System in a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee During Daytime and Nighttime Conditions

Testing was conducted to evaluate the performance of the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems at speeds between 35 and 70 miles per hour (mph). Two 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles were utilized under varying testing conditions in order to evaluate the systems. Approximately 54 daytime tests utilizing a foam Stationary Vehicle Target (SVT) were conducted at speeds between 35 and 70 mph. Additionally, five daytime tests utilizing a custom-built deformable foam stationary vehicle target (DSVT) designed to withstand 60+ mph impact speeds were conducted at 60 mph. Twelve nighttime tests utilizing the SVT were run at speeds between 35 and 60 mph. Furthermore, 11 nighttime tests utilizing a live vehicle with its brake lights illuminated were run at 60 mph. Testing measured the Time to Collision (TTC) values of the visual/audible component of the forward collision warning that was presented to the driver. In addition, the testing quantified the TTC response of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system including the timing and magnitude of the stage one braking response. Testing also quantified the timing and magnitude of the haptic pulse observed in braking data prior to AEB engagement. The results of the testing add higher speed Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and AEB testing scenarios to the database of publicly available tests from sources like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which currently evaluates vehicles’ AEB systems at speeds of 12 and 25 mph.