The left turn assistant is activated automatically in the BMW five Serial test vehicle as shortly as the car'due south sensors detect that it is inbound the left-turn lane and the auto registers the driver's wish to turn off. Recognition of the left-plow lane takes place on ii levels.

The vehicle positioning role of the navigation arrangement allows the location of the car to exist fixed to within a metre at intersections. And a mono camera, comparable with standard cameras already in use, registers the plow-off lane markings and lane borders on the road.

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With the left turn assistant activated, three laser scanners in the front end of the motorcar map the expanse upwards to 100 metres in front of the car. The light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation scanners pick up not only cars and trucks, but also motorcycles. If the sensors detect vehicles budgeted from the contrary direction but the car continues to motion into the intersection, the left plow assistant activates an automatic braking input in a low speed range upwardly to 10 km/h to forestall a collision. At the same time, a warning audio and relevant warning symbols in the musical instrument cluster and Caput-Up Display advise the driver of the reason for the intervention. This automated action is triggered deliberately without a prior warning stage, as a rapid response is vital in this situation to prevent the car from moving into the intersection and presenting an obstruction to oncoming traffic. If the driver starting time had to react to a warning, the car would continue forward into the collision area and an accident would no longer be avoidable.

The left turn assistant is designed to work at speeds of upwardly to x km/h. The automated braking function does not therefore trigger dramatic deceleration from high speed, just instead should exist viewed as a arrangement that prevents the automobile from moving off or continuing along its path. As presently as the commuter engages the brakes himself, the braking input triggered past the left plow assistant is disengaged and the car is "released" again to continue normal driving. To maximise safety the commuter tin can always override the left turn assistant. For example, if the driver needs to guide the car to the side of an intersection to clear the way for an emergency vehicle, he can do so at any fourth dimension with a brusque dab of the accelerator.

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Car-to-x communication further improves safety.
The possibilities of vehicle-to-vehicle communication raise the functionality of the left turn assistant. In add-on to the laser scanners and camera, the BMW 5 Serial Saloon can too be fitted with a WLAN car-to-x communication unit. This device not only increases the range of the vehicle recognition role to 250 metres, it besides allows the arrangement to detect the presence of concealed road users who also take the technology on board.

A second testing scenario with the left plow assistant shows the additional potential of equipping vehicles with this kind of interface. Here, the enquiry car approaches a motorcycle fitted with automobile-to-x communication technology. The BMW Motorrad test cycle is currently a BMW R 1200 GS. Again, the information provided by camera-aided paradigm recognition and laser scanners allows the arrangement to annals the lane markings, the left-turn arrow and the distance to the center line and stop lines (if these are present). When the driver activates ane of the turn indicate indicators, the car detects that the driver wants to turn off to the left and the assistance organization is activated.

"The car and the motorcycle communicate with one another via the motorcar-to-x interfaces equally the motorcycle approaches. The car and motorcycle exchange information on the type of vehicle, its position and speed, as well every bit dynamic data such equally its current steering angle and whether the indicators are activated," explains Udo Rietschel, development engineer in the BMW Grouping Research and Technology'southward left turn assistant project. The motorbike then uses this data to detect that the car commuter wants to plough off to the left. On the basis of the data exchanged between the car and motorcycle an algorithm then calculates their trajectories and identifies whether a collision is probable. In critical situations the motorcycle increases its conspicuity to warn the car driver. The level of collision risk is assessed and diverse measures taken accordingly; the motorcycle's headlight is adjusted gradually, its force increased and the flashlights and LEDs positioned on the sides of the bike and on its mirrors are activated to create a broader silhouette. If there is an acute chance of collision, the motorcycle's horn also sounds. If the car continues into the intersection regardless, the left plow assistant brakes the car automatically to a standstill. Here again, a alert sound and relevant warnings in the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display indicate to the commuter during and after the full braking manoeuvre why the machine has been braked.

Improved prophylactic at intersections – INTERSAFE 2.
Since 2008 a consortium of eleven European carmakers, suppliers and research institutes – including BMW Group Research and Technology, NEC Europe Ltd. Network Laboratories, SWARCO TRAFFIC SYSTEMS GMBH, Volvo Engineering (truck division) and Volkswagen AG – take been working together on a inquiry project to develop interactive driver assistance systems which farther better safety at road junctions. INTERSAFE 2 builds on the results of the Preclude (INTERSAFE) project, the consortium partners continuing the evolution of the intelligent systems towards the goal of everyday usability. Around €three.8 million of the total €6.5 million budget for the project was provided by the EU.

The premiere of the left turn assistant volition accept identify every bit part of the INTERSAFE two Final Consequence on 17 and 18 May at a airtight-off intersection in Wolfsburg. The premiere will therefore be held in a real-life environment, rather than under exam conditions, as is usually the case.

[Source: BMW ]