Adaptive cruise control taught cars to look straight ahead. New
environmental sensors and telematics applications will enable them to look
in all directions, see around corners and communicate with their
environment
DETROIT, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, during presentations at the
Telematics Update Intelligent Vehicle Safety Detroit and Telematics Update
Detroit symposiums, Continental Automotive Systems announced it has
successfully demonstrated its first three car-to-car and
car-to-infrastructure telematics applications. During the events, the
company is outlining its vision that combines its experience in active and
passive safety systems with next-generation telematics applications. The
goal is to develop intelligent in-vehicle electronics that can alert
drivers in advance of potential hazards, including: poor traction
conditions; the approach of an ambulance or other emergency vehicle; or
when a potential crash or broken-down vehicle may cause an obstruction in
the road ahead.
The research and development efforts Continental is exploring are
aligned with the U.S. government's Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII)
Initiative. VII is investigating how to apply technology to vehicles and
roads in an effort to reduce traffic congestion and enhance vehicle safety
for millions of motorists in North America. Primary stakeholders of the VII
initiative include the driving public, state departments of transportation
(DOTs) and the automotive industry.
Continental is beginning to collaborate with VII stakeholders and is
introducing its Active Passive Integration Approach (APIA) + Telematics
project to them at the Telematics Update Intelligent Vehicle Safety Detroit
conference. The global automotive supplier is a Gold Sponsor of the event.
Continental Automotive Systems' APIA project consists of forward looking
radar integrated with the vehicle's braking, and passive safety systems
(air bags and seatbelts). The result is a vehicle with "electronic
reflexes" that can respond instantly to avoid an impending crash. The
global supplier is highlighting how it intends to integrate Telematics into
that vision and announced that it utilized Motorola's MOTODRIVE roadside
network, a high mobility, mesh architecture - deployed with the Michigan
Department of Transportation (MDOT) - to successfully demonstrate the
following in-vehicle capabilities to U.S. transportation officials last
week:
E-flare: anticipating hazards in advance and responding in time
Before a car reaches a blind curve in the road, the driver receives an
audible signal or cockpit display warning if an obstruction presents itself
on the road ahead. These optical and acoustic warnings may also be
accompanied by an intuitive signal from the force-feedback gas pedal that
presses back on the driver's foot, suggesting the driver reduce speed. This
"e-flare" function is one of the latest telematics applications that
Continental is exploring to warn drivers of a hazard ahead. In parallel
with the warning system, the telematics module embedded inside the vehicle
involved in the potential hazard could transmit a warning signal within a
radius of 300 to 500 meters to other telematics-equipped vehicles. In the
future, the signal would be sent via Dedicated Short-Range Communications
(DSRC) broadband communication technology, the automotive version of a
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). This car-to-car communication can
provide drivers of other cars with additional time to reduce their speeds
and approach the hazard cautiously.
E-horn: safe traffic control
As a driver approaches a busy intersection, an internal warning signal
sounds and a blue light appears on the display, possibly accompanied by a
text and/or audio message indicating an emergency vehicle is approaching
from a certain direction. A telematics unit in the emergency vehicle
transmits the warning information to nearby vehicles, enabling the drivers
to brake in time before the vehicle speeds through the intersection. If the
intersection traffic is controlled by a set of traffic lights that are also
equipped with a wireless telematics module, they also receive signals from
the emergency vehicle (car-to-infrastructure communication). The traffic
lights then can switch to green for the emergency vehicle and
simultaneously transmit additional warning signals to the vehicles crossing
its path.
Telematics: vital information on road and traffic conditions
Telematics can also turn the car into a sensor that warns traffic of
poor road conditions, such as an icy road. The telematics unit can transmit
warnings about this potential hazard using data provided over the vehicle's
data bus by the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system. If the ESC
identifies a potential hazard from a slippery or icy road, the telematics
unit can notify all vehicles in the vicinity. In addition to this
car-to-car communication, the relevant information can be forwarded to a
traffic control center, which could incorporate this information into
roadside hazard-warning displays to warn drivers. If necessary, the control
center could re-route traffic by recommending detours, thus preventing
traffic jams.
Telematics solutions extending the scope of the APIA project
"Functions such as these, which our organization has developed to an
advanced stage, show quite clearly that telematics can make our streets
safer and save lives," said Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, chairman of the
Continental Automotive Systems Board and member of the Continental AG
Executive Board. "Car-to-car communication and car-to-infrastructure
communication based on DSRC technology could help drivers to avoid critical
situations. We are providing cars with extra senses, as it were, which
enable them to see around corners and warn others of any hazards they spot.
These senses are a key building block in our organization's Active Passive
Integration Approach (APIA) project."
"As soon as a uniform wireless standard is established, we will
integrate the DSRC technology into our APIA approach," Dr. Neumann added.
"This will take vehicle and traffic safety to a new level. The
organizational structure of our company enables us to provide not just the
functional expertise, but also all the necessary components and subsystems
from one source - from electronic brakes and environmental sensors to
telematics units."
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 EUR14.9 billion. It
has a worldwide workforce of around 87,000.
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 approx. EUR 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.
Internet media data bases: http://www.contiautomotive.com or
http://conti-online.mediaroom.com /.
SOURCE Continental Automotive Systems
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Related links:
http://www.contiautomotive.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/437525.html/
CONTACT:
Sue Frederick, Manager Communications of
Continental Automotive Systems Division, +1-248-790-7277,
sue.frederick@us.contiautomotive.com; or Joe St. Henry of
Stratacomm Public Relations, +1-248-459-0706,
JStHenry@stratacomm.net, for Continental Automotive Systems
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