Driver Assistance Systems
Nearly 680,000 – almost one-quarter – of the 2.95 million new cars registered in Germany last year can do just that: warn a tired driver before he or she causes an accident. This makes driver drowsiness detection the driver assistance function most frequently installed in new cars.
"An essential step on the way to eradicating road fatalities"
"Driver assistance systems are an essential step on the way to 'vision zero,' the goal of eradicating road fatalities," says Gerhard Steiger, president of the Chassis Systems Control division. This goal is also reflected in Euro NCAP's new rating scheme, which is pushing the adoption of predictive emergency braking systems and lane-keeping assistants.
And it's having an effect on the production numbers for the sensors that are essential to the assistance systems: "Bosch expects to sell over two million radar and video sensors in 2014, more than twice as many as last year," says Steiger.
The six assistance systems used most often in new cars are listed below in order of increasing frequency:
Ultimately, the driver is relieved of tiring driving tasks and remains alert for longer. Of the new cars registered in Germany in 2013, 4 % have ACC or ACC Stop & Go. By offering more cost-effective sensors, such as the mid-range radar sensor, Bosch is increasing market penetration and making driver assistance systems such as ACC and ACC Stop & Go affordable, even for small and compact cars
As well as its system designed for in-vehicle installation, Bosch has also developed a free road-sign recognition solution for smartphone users. The "myDriveAssist" app, available from the App Store and Google Play, uses the smartphone's internal camera to recognize road signs.
By contrast, the lane-changing assistant monitors the area alongside and diagonally to the rear of the vehicle. A warning lamp on the side mirror warns the driver whenever another car is approaching at speed from behind or if one is already present in the blind spot. According to Germany's GIDAS accident database, lane-keeping assistants can prevent up to 28% of accidents caused by cars leaving the lane unintentionally.
This kind of predictive pedestrian protection will be required starting in 2016 to qualify for Euro NCAP's highest rating of five stars. The benefits of the system have already been recognized: up to 72% of all rear-end collisions in Germany that result in personal injury could be avoided if all vehicles had an automatic emergency braking system. In 2013, 11% of all new cars had one installed.
There's more: intelligent headlight controls can also constantly adjust the headlights to the course of the road or continuously switch between low and high beams. As a result, the system ensures the best possible illumination without blinding other road users. Of all the new cars registered in 2013, 20% have intelligent headlight control.
The system also registers any abrupt, small steering motions. Supplemented by further parameters (such as length of time already driven and time of day), the system can identify the warning signs of fatigue. It then sends an auditory or visual signal telling the driver to take a break before he or she begins to nod off. A drowsiness detection system can be found in 23% of new cars registered in 2013.