The idea should shake us, or at least make you think: Who looks in the car at speeds of 50, only three seconds on his cell phone, or extent, e.g., a 42 meters virtually flying blind. No matter whether seconds of sleep, or distraction of any kind – such situations must be avoided, because the consequences can be devastating.

Now you know that the human being is infallible, so get behind the Wheel again and again, sleepy, or distracted. To the highest degree of safety, is also required to the car. Ideally, it should monitor with its sensor systems, not only the road, but also the vehicle’s interior – especially of course the driver.

the Laser, Radar and camera

The tools required for automated Driving at higher Levels, a Lida lidar system (Light detection and ranging), along with cameras and radar sensors. This laser-based distance measurement is necessary for the driving functions according to the SAE Level 3 to 5 – must be able to from the highly automated Driving, the driver in the short term take over, to completely Autonomous Driving.

The Lidarsensor covers large distances as well as short-range. A motorcycle approaching at an intersection with a high rate of an automated vehicle, you must ensure that the Lidar, the detection of the two-Wheeler reliably. In such situations, Radar, camera and Lidar to complement possible.

the camera technology in the car is not equipped with artificial intelligence, so that you can recognize objects only, but also can classify. It distinguishes between vehicles, pedestrians or bicycles, and recorded their movements. For use in Large-scale Lidar must, however, be much cheaper. Automotive suppliers, Bosch is hoping to achieve this through economies of scale.

Lidar: wide view of security

A Lidarsensor sends out laser pulses and receives the reflected light. Then he calculated the distance based on the time, which requires the light for the distance. With the laser-based distance measurement also detects non-metallic obstacles at distances of up to 200 meters and reliable. In the third Dimension you are working with Lida rsensoren when they are pivoted. Then you receive information about distance and Position in the x-direction as well as about the positions in the y – and z-direction. For an optimal Use in the car, Lidar, Radar, and camera are precisely matched to one another. Thanks to this Fusion of the Sensors an automated vehicle can initiate actions such as swerving or braking in time. One of the advantages of the Lida rsensors also that he is disturbed, neither by sunlight nor by other Lida R systems.

Also, the radar technology will continue to be refined. Today a Radar works in adverse weather and light conditions are already reliable. Especially in the case of all-terrain vehicles, it is, however, that the driver can also take a look under the vehicle. The exact Position of the front wheels or the quality of the pad can be made with the function of the transparent engine bonnet visible.

This from the supplier Continental developed function is based on the surround view System, which consists of four cameras and a control unit. An intelligent image-processing algorithm reconstructs the image below of the vehicle and displays it to the driver on the screen in the dashboard. This System was first presented by the end of 2018 in the Range Rover Evoque as clearsight Ground View. Now it is also for models of other manufacturers available.

the end of the sun visor

But not only the car to see better, also the driver, there is potential for improvement. For example, with a transparent sun shield, Bosch introduced two months ago at the electronics fair CES in Las Vegas (USA). To the interference of the sun to keep the light back, it would have to be the conventional aperture, however, is so great, because besides the glare, it also represents a visual obstruction. The new sun visor – Bosch calls it the Virtual Visor is replaced, the classic flap is a transparent LC Display and a driver-facing camera. On the transparent aperture is finally blacked out only that part, the sun would dazzle. The large residual area remains transparent.

From 2022 to motorists, according to the EU Standards in the case of fatigue or distraction warned. The legislature hopes that, through the enhanced security requirements up to 2038, more than 25’000 people’s lives can be saved. Therefore, warning systems for fatigue and distraction count is expected from 2025 to the program of the Euro-NCAP rating for safety of vehicles.

A steering Wheel built-in camera to recognize due to the eye blink frequency when the driver is tired and also when he turns his head to the passenger or in the direction of the rear seats. Using intelligent image processing Algorithms and machine Learning to understand engineers the System is taught to what the man does on the driver’s seat. Depending on the legal requirements, and preferences of the car manufacturer a warning, driving recommendations, or speed reductions to be made.

camera keeps children in the view

to survey the interior of the vehicle including front passenger and rear passengers, is also a when the rear-view mirror-mounted camera to use. You recognize, when children on the rear seat, unfasten the seat belt or a passenger in the rear is not sitting too far forward leaning, or oblique, so that the belt tensioners and Airbags in case of an accident to protect optimally. The Airbag for the front passenger seat will not release thanks to this monitoring system, if there is a baby seat is.

The interior of the camera recognizes the Person in the driver’s seat. Accordingly, it adjusts the settings of the seat, rearview mirror, steering Wheel and infotainment system. The developers of these systems emphasize that the information of the interior of the evaluated observation only of the Software in the car, and will neither be stored nor passed on to third parties.

to See is an ability of the car, which is always better; the Feel another, previously little-known. The Contact Sensor System (Cossy), the supplier Continental also presented at the CES, detects in step pace of contact between the vehicle and a Person or object. A collision with low-speed Cossy recognizes on the basis of the recording of sound signals.

With this sensor technology, various new applications can be supported, for example, the detection of the Park, pushes or intentionally attached to the scratches. Even the identification of the driver and the voice is also conceivable. And soon will be also analyzed the mood of the driver – cheerful, sad, rushed or relaxed, and with the appropriate Algorithms associated with it.