From alertness-assistance to
traffic-sign recognition, activesafety
systems are revolutionizing
the world of automotive
electronicsâ??redefining the
driver/car interface and promising
a vastly safer driving experience.
For 2007, we recognize Hellaâ??s lanechange
warning system as the Best Automotive
Design. Itâ??s the first such system
available in North America, featured in
the 2007 Audi Q7. The Lane Change
Assistant provides some ESP for those
dreaded blind spots that have plagued
drivers since the dawn of the freeway.
The system offers constant lane monitoring
through 24-GHz radar sensors (Fig. 1).
Two sensors on both sides of the Q7 with a
range of 164 ft constantly watch the adjacent
lanes once the vehicle hits a speed of
35 mph (Fig. 2). Weather conditions do not
affect the sensors, which are integrated
â??invisiblyâ? into the Q7â??s bumper.
Known as the Audi Side Assist, the system
communicates with the driver via
warning lights in the side-view mirrors.
When a vehicle enters the systemâ??s range
of vision, a yellow vertical light strip illuminates
on the corresponding side-view
mirror. If the driver activates a turn signal
to indicate an intention to change lanes
when another vehicle is in that adjacent
lane, the light strip flashes.
Because of the long range of the sensors,
drivers receive enough warning
even when vehicles are approaching at
fast speeds. If youâ??ve ever driven on the
Autobahn, youâ??ll understand why German-
based Hella was thinking about fast
approach speeds!
Hellaâ??s other active safety systems (ASS)
in development include lane-departure
warning systems, adaptive headlights,
and traffic-sign recognition. In the last 18
months, the company introduced a rearview
camera using CMOS sensors to display
a color image in the driver panel, as
well as an adaptive cruise control with
infrared lidar sensor technology.
Also in Hellaâ??s ASS pipeline, an alertness
assistant uses a camera focused on
the driver to track the speed of the driverâ??s
eyelid blinks. If the driverâ??s eyes
stay closed for longer than 1.5 seconds,
a wakeup alarm sounds.
RUNNERS-UP
The staff at Electronic
Designâ??s sister magazine Auto Electronics
(autoelectronics.com) nominated
the candidates for this yearâ??s Best
Automotive Design award. Other nominees
included:
- The Ford Sync System, powered by
Microsoft Auto software and
Freescale processors, is Fordâ??s integrated,
voice-activated Bluetooth
communications and entertainment
system for mobile phones and digital
music players (covered in the July
2007 Auto Electronics).
- The GM dual-mode hybrid drive system
on the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe and
GMC Yukon hybrids represents the
first fruits of the combined efforts of
General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, and
BMW to develop a hybrid drive system.
In addition to the improved efficiency
that all hybrids provide in city driving,
the two-mode system improves highway
fuel economy (featured in the
Nov./Dec. Auto Electronics).
- A new adaptive front lighting system
(AFS) under test at DENSO combines
image recognition, communications,
and image conversion to predict
curves in the road ahead. It uses information
from the car navigation system
and redirect headlamps to illuminate
the road before the vehicle enters a
curve, enhancing visibility.
- Siemens VDO is developing a wrongway
warning system that leverages
navigation and camera-based trafficsign
recognition technology to detect
and alert drivers before they proceed
in the wrong direction, against traffic.
- As an indication of whatâ??s to come in
automotive infotainment, Google
Mapsâ?? â??Send to Carâ? allows drivers to
send a business listing found on
Google Maps directly to their vehicle.
It then sets the listing as a destination
in the vehicleâ??s navigation system
and/or calls the business from the car.
The service is currently available on
BMW vehicles in Germany, but will
soon launch in the U.S.