2007 sees the start of lane keeping support with sensory alarm and a
stop-and- go system for comfort and safety in congested traffic
Further innovative assistance systems to follow
FRANKFURT, Germany and GENEVA, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Automotive
Systems Division of Continental AG, the international automotive industry
supplier, is planning to launch a series of innovative driver assistance
systems with crucial safety functions. 2007 will see the introduction of a
lane keeping support system which will use the signals from a camera to
alert the driver if he should unintentionally leave his lane. In 2008, a
driver assistance system will analyze the vehicle's immediate surroundings
and prevent rear-end collisions even at low speeds. New radar sensors for
even better proximity control and the introduction of a new generation of
camera sensors for road sign recognition are planned for 2009. Camera and
radar sensors will also be interlinked as part of a joint development
project between Continental Automotive Systems and a major vehicle
manufacturer, the aim being to produce a system which will make a
significant contribution to reducing rear-end collisions.
Lane Departure Warning with sensory alarm: always keep in lane
Over-tiredness or lack of concentration at the wheel can lead to the
vehicle inadvertently leaving the traffic lane or wandering off the road.
The consequences of such an accident are often very serious. The Lane
Departure Warning (LDW) camera passes precise information about the
immediate area ahead to an electronic unit, thus providing wide-ranging
protection against this danger. If the system detects that lane markings
have been crossed, and if no turn indicator has been activated to signal
the intention to turn, then the steering wheel or driver's seat will gently
vibrate. The camera-based system looks far ahead, leaving sufficient time
to make a steering correction. LDW will be installed for the first time in
2007 in a European manufacturer's vehicle.
Closing Velocity sensor: greater protection against rear-end collisions
Many rear-end collisions happen in dense urban traffic situations.
Continental Automotive Systems has developed the infrared-based CV (Closing
Velocity) sensor which monitors what is happening directly in front of the
vehicle. This information can be used to brake the vehicle automatically at
low speeds if -- when turning off, for example .- the driver fails to
notice that the vehicle in front suddenly stops or slows down. The Closing
Velocity sensor, which will make its first appearance in a European vehicle
in 2008, represents an inexpensive step towards interlinking active and
passive safety systems. The system functions independently of other sensing
systems; it does not need to be linked to ACC and can be adapted to further
performance requirements at an acceptable cost.
Radar sensors: more precise analysis of the vehicle's immediate
surroundings for even smoother ACC
As the pioneer of radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC),
Continental Automotive Systems has been continuously developing this
technology. The Full Speed Range ACC for proximity-based cruise control in
the 0 to 210 km/h range is the most recent development. An international
vehicle manufacturer has now commissioned the company to develop a system
offering even higher performance. When production starts in 2009, the
system will be able to determine the precise position of the roadside and
categorize any objects it perceives, allowing smooth and seamless system
interventions.
Camera sensor: road sign recognition and data for intelligent light
systems
While the first camera-based driver assistance systems are going into
series production, Continental Automotive Systems will be driving this
technology forward. In 2009, there will be a series-production-ready system
capable of supplying a range of valuable data by precision recording of the
vehicle's wider surroundings as well. This will allow the implementation of
intelligent light systems, able to provide optimum road illumination for
different driving conditions (urban and country roads, freeways, fog,
continuous nose-to-tail traffic, cornering, turning off). The camera and
image editing electronics are also sufficiently high-performance so that
LDW systems can be supported and road signs recognized.
Interlinked camera and radar: a composite sensor for optimum system
networking
In conjunction with a major vehicle manufacturer, Continental
Automotive Systems is developing towards production readiness a driver
assistance system which will monitor the vehicle's surroundings with camera
and radar sensors.
Interlinking these technologies will allow situations fraught with
potential danger to be clearly identified and for appropriate responses to
be made. The introduction and networking of safety functionalities such as
pre- tensioning safety belts, repositioning seats further forward or
closing side windows and pre-charging brakes or partial braking can the
take place automatically. These Safe Systems will also permit full
automatic emergency braking. "At present, automatic braking is only allowed
at just 40 percent of the potential braking power. But, with this system,
we are gaining experience which will benefit both our customers and their
customers whenever full automatic emergency braking is permitted by law,"
announced Michael Schamberger, Head of the Driver Assistance Systems
Business Center.
Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, chairman of the Continental Automotive Systems
board and member of the Continental AG Board of Management, explained: "We
concentrated our attention at an early stage on the subject of perceiving
vehicle surroundings with different technologies and have now gained so
much know-how that we are setting the pace for the global competition as
regards driver assistance systems. Our acquisition of Motorola's telematics
division has strengthened this position because in future such systems will
be decisively optimized by mutual communication both between vehicles and
between vehicles and the road infrastructure."
The Continental Corporation is a leading automotive supplier of brake
systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical
elastomers. In 2006 the corporation realized sales of euro 14.9 billion. At
present it has a worldwide workforce of around 85,000.
As a worldwide leading technology partner to the automotive industry,
the Automotive Systems Division of Continental AG integrates extensive
know-how and uncompromising quality in the fields of driving safety,
embedded telematics and hands-free communication systems, powertrain and
comfort. In 2006 the Division achieved sales of approximately euro 6
billion with a workforce of more than 30,000. Continental Automotive
Systems develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake, stability and
chassis control systems, electronic air suspension systems, sensors, engine
management and transmission control systems, hybrid drives, cooling fan
modules, body and security electronics and also is the industry leader of
embedded telematics and communication systems in vehicles.
SOURCE Continental AG
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