Bosch has developed a stereo video camera with which an emergency braking system can function based solely on camera data. Normally, this would require a radar sensor or a combination of radar and video sensors.
“The Bosch stereo video camera is a single sensor item that makes various assistance functions affordable for all vehicle classes,” said Bosch manager Dirk Hoheisel.
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Land Rover offers the camera together with the Bosch emergency braking system as standard in its new Discovery Sport. This system was developed by supplier and carmaker.
When the camera recognises another vehicle ahead in the lane as an obstruction, the emergency braking system prepares for action. If the driver does not react, then the system initiates maximum braking.
Besides the emergency braking system, the new Land Rover Discovery Sport offers other driver assistance functions, some of which are also based on the stereo video camera. These include road sign recognition and lane departure warning.
The camera covers a 50-degree horizontal field of vision and can take measurements in 3D at a distance of over 50m. The video signal alone provides enough data to calculate, for example, the distance to vehicles ahead.
A pair of video sensors are equipped with colour recognition and CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) technology. They have a resolution of 1,280 by 960 pixels and can also process high-contrast images. The camera’s high-performance computer makes it possible to integrate other measuring programs and functions and respond flexibly to market requirements.
It is smallest stereo video camera currently on the market. The distance between the optical axes of the lenses is just 12cm. Developers have integrated the control unit for image processing and function control directly into the camera housing. That means vehicle manufacturers can integrate the camera into the rearview mirror especially easily, impeding the field of vision only slightly.
