Schaeffler’s recent interest in acquiring control of Continental AG was partly motivated by Conti’s considerable electronics expertise – especially following its acquisition of Siemens VDO last year. Driver Assistance Systems are a rapidly growing application of that expertise and in an exclusive interview with just-auto, Continental’s Amrei Drechsler talks about Conti’s driver assistance strategy.
just-auto: Could you provide a brief update on Continental’s stage of development with respect to each of its active and passive driver assistance systems? In what ways have your sensor and camera technologies advanced over the past 18 months?
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Amrei Drechsler: The recent merger with Siemens VDO complemented the vision of Continental to achieve a 360° perception of the environment. Thus we are able to offer almost every driver assistance system (i.e. ACC+Stop&Go, emergency brake assist, collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping, blind spot warning, lane change assist, enhanced night vision by camera controlled headlamps, speed limit monitoring, etc) all embedded in our ContiGuard strategy for greater driving comfort and safety. All these systems are already in or very close to series production.
In 2008 we are going to launch completely new radar and infrared sensors as well as new camera systems, which are capable of running multiple driver assistance function (lane departure warning, speed limit monitoring, enhanced night vision by camera controlled headlamps) at the same time.
just-auto: In what ways have your DAS capabilities and expertise changed since the acquisition of Siemens VDO?
Amrei Drechsler: The merger offered us the once-in-a-lifetime chance to combine the expertise and passion of two strong, highly motivated teams. [It is] a chance that we clearly will translate to enhance our business.
just-auto: To what extent is there a move to offer greater functionality and integration of certain sensors for DAS applications?
Amrei Drechsler: Affordable solutions can go for greater functionality at the same price level or offering functionality at attracting prices, which can be the result of a comprehensive integration. In fact, customers are looking for both optimizations at the same time.
just-auto: In what ways are these driver assistance systems attached to (or used in) the windshield and how do they affect windshield design?
Amrei Drechsler: One approach to offer greater functionality at lower cost addresses the idea of an ADAS ‘windshield cluster’, which integrates camera and infrared sensors in one package utilizing various synergies. This cluster is simply attached to the windshield. The windshield design as such is not affected as long as suitable light absorbing characteristics have been taken into consideration.
just-auto: Could existing reverse parking sensors play a greater role in partial and full parking assistance systems?
Amrei Drechsler: Today’s partial parking assistance systems are using the same technology as in reverse parking sensors. Next evolutions have to consider other technologies in combination too. Those must resolve the complex environment at higher resolution and speed in order to apply the brakes and fully release the driver finally.
just-auto: Could car navigation systems play an important role in detecting vehicle-surrounding conditions?
Amrei Drechsler: Digital maps are going to play a role as back-up information in the first place. However the current map data must be enlarged to ADAS specific attributes and precisions.
just-auto: While raising awareness about safety is expected to lead to growth in the driver assistance market, I guess a key issue going forward will be to reduce prices so that these systems become standard on more vehicles. How is Continental approaching that, i.e. what is your focus in order to realise cost levels that will promote the widespread adoption of these systems?
Amrei Drechsler: You’re absolutely right. In particular, Continental strives for predictive safety systems seen as the natural successor of the ABS/ESC and Brake Assist systems. That’s why we’ve been setting up product lines, which basically decouples the predictive safety requirements from the comfort requirements by reducing the maximum range capabilities as requested for ACC systems. Have a look at the new Volvo XC60, which is using a dedicated “Safety” sensor from Continental for its standard low speed range emergency braking assist. Volvo calls it ‘City Safety’.
just-auto: Flashing lights and video screens on the dashboard and audible bleeps from the car’s loud speakers all suggest distracting the driver too much. How will the driver respond? Will they use the information correctly? Will it elicit the correct response? I guess with so few cars on the road today with DAS, it is hard to predict what will happen.
Amrei Drechsler: Typically the design of the human machine interface is done by our customer. Although with the new competencies from Siemens VDO, we’re capable to propose layouts and system ideas. We follow the rule to be as intuitive as possible, e.g. using a steering recommendation for lane departure warning instead of audible or haptic feedbacks.
just-auto: Some people refer to driver assistance systems as the ‘second revolution’ after ESP. How and where do you see the technologies evolving?
Amrei Drechsler: In fact, driver assistance has got much higher market scale than ESP as a solely safety system. Driver assistance offers in addition:
a) comfort feature such as ACC, Stop&Go Assist, Speed Limit Assist, Intelligent Lighting to enhance the night view etc…
b) it can help to further protect the driver and vehicle, e.g. it can avoid ‘bagatelle damage’ to the vehicle, which will become a business model for insurances too.
just-auto: Which electronic systems will we consider common in five, ten or fifteen years?
Amrei Drechsler: [In 5 years], Emergency Brake Assist and Lane Departure Warning in trucks. In [10 – 15 years], Emergency Brake Assist in passenger cars.
just-auto: How do you plan to help promote the spread of driver assistance systems?
Amrei Drechsler: First of all – provide attractive, affordable, convincing, high quality functions, systems and products. Also:
- Participation in international and national promotion activities such as “esafetyaware”
- Enlightenment of the market via press and car associations, internet (www.bester-beifahrer.de)
- Support customer events and fairs.
just-auto: As the algorithms for doing image processing is continuously evolving and more and more computer power enters the vehicle, could you foresee that in the next decade every new car will have a video camera?
Amrei Drechsler: Yes, indeed this is how we see the camera market too. This will even get faster assuming a “star rating” system at NCAP considering ADAS as currently under discussion in the US and the EU.
Ms Amrei Drechsler is vice president, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Chassis & Safety, Business Unit Passive Safety & ADAS, Continental.
See also: RESEARCH ANALYSIS: Review of driver assistance systems
