This integrated approach utilised in the new driver assistance system provides a solution for different types of roads and road markings.
The newly upgraded system, due to be introduced in the new BMW 7 series, is equipped with a single HDR-CMOS camera to carry out three functions simultaneously: Speed limit monitor (SLM), intelligent headlight control (IHC), and lane departure warning (LDW).
The IHC function helps provide the clearest possible view to the driver by making extensive use of the main beam to illuminate the road. The camera system also monitors the road for headlamps of oncoming vehicles and tail lamps of vehicles in front, so as to dip to the low beam when necessary.
The LDW function, first introduced in 2007 in the BMW 5er, has improved in the new driver assistance system and provides additional benefits such as road edge detection.
These three technologies were engineered with BMW through a partnership between Continental and Mobileye,
The two companies have collaborated over the past few years in the development of the combined system on a world-wide range of weather conditions, road types and lane markings. The system consists of a highly dynamic range digital CMOS camera developed and produced by Continental and a high performance chip EyeQ1 provided by Mobileye. The EyeQ1 is a system-on-chip designed to cater the type of computation one faces in such intensive visual interpretation tasks.
Mobileye presented and demonstrated the technology during VISION congress held at Versailles on October 7 and 8, 2008.
More information on Vision congress will be published from October 28, 2008 at www.DrivingVisionNews.com