BMW Latest Driver Assistance R&D Developments

Press Release

Page 1 – Intro
Page 2 – Safety Devices
Page 3 – Lane Departure Warning
Page 4 – RoadPreview
Page 5 – Network Camera System
Page 6 – Remote Park Assist
Page 7 – Car2x
Page 8 – Remote Vehicle Control
Page 9 – Custom Radio
Page 10 – Driving Simulator
Page 11 – Usability Lab
Page 12 – EMC Hall
Page 13 – Prototyping Platform
Page 14 – BMW CAR IT MMI
Page 15 – AUTOSAR Partnership

BMW Innovations for Extra Safety and Sheer Driving Pleasure

Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go Function and Adaptive Brake Assist.

Sheer driving pleasure always reaches its limits when traffic conditions make it impossible to proceed and reach one’s destination as desired. Indeed, traffic congestion or stop-and-go traffic at roadworks and other bottlenecks give the driver an unpleasant experience of stress and discomfort, since he is required to pay full awareness to driving conditions even when moving dead slow, without reaching his destination as quickly as planned.

Precisely this is where a reliable and well-networked driver assistance system is able to significantly enhance motoring comfort in slow, congested traffic. BMW’s Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, for example, is a radar-based support system about to enter series production, assisting the driver when starting off and applying the brakes repeatedly in a slow convoy of vehicles, and maintaining an appropriate distance from the vehicle ahead. This relieves the driver of a routine chore, allows him to concentrate more on the process of steering his car, and makes any waiting times a lot more relaxed.

Evolution of a proven system.

Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is a comfort-oriented assistance system with a large potential for extra safety on the road and is particularly suitable for driving on the Autobahn and fast routes. It is conceived for a speed range extending all the way down from 180 km/h or approximately 110 mph to a complete standstill of the vehicle, thus offering the driver valuable help in many everyday situations.

Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go accelerates and slows down the car fully automatically, relieving the driver of extra strain not only when driving in a long convoy, at low speeds, and in congested traffic, but also in a regular flow of traffic, ensuring extra comfort and safety all in one.

In stop-and-go situations the driver is relieved of regular braking manoeuvres, but remains responsible for his car and is merely required to briefly press down the accelerator pedal or press a button, for example, when setting out from a standstill.

Three radar sensors monitoring objects ahead of the car.

Radar sensors monitor and compile the data required for maintaining a consistent safety distance. To allow use of the system in as wide a range of applications as possible, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go combines a long-distance sensor covering a range of up to 150 metres or almost 500 feet with short-range sensors able to detect vehicles ahead at a distance of up to 20 metres or 66 feet. The sensors are integrated smoothly and inconspicuously in the front end of the car, complying with the particular design and looks of the respective model.

The signals generated by the radar sensors are evaluated by a central control unit processing all data on the current position, distance and speed of vehicles ahead. Depending on traffic conditions, the control unit not only intervenes in the car’s engine and transmission management, but also activates the brake system.

As soon as the distance from the vehicle ahead drops below a certain point, the control system will intervene in the engine drive management and, if necessary, build up brake pressure to slow down the car without requiring any action on the part of the driver. The maximum deceleration generated by Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function is 2.5 metres/sec² at typical speeds on the Autobahn, with higher stopping forces being allowed at low speeds. And the should the driver be required to intervene whenever the driver in the vehicle ahead applies the brakes all-out, he will be alerted by optical and acoustic signals.

The BMW Brake Assistant for maximum support of the driver in critical situations.

The Adaptive Brake Assist function ensures unprecedented qualities in active safety by using the Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go sensors for optimum efficiency. This system supports the driver in recognising and handling situations which require particularly powerful deceleration of the car.

As soon as the Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go radar sensors have detected a vehicle driving ahead and the system computer in the control unit has recognised a potentially dangerous situation by comparing data, the driver will be forewarned accordingly. Such an anti-collision warning is actuated, for example, whenever the driver ahead applies the brakes exceptionally hard or when the distance between the two vehicles drops to a critical level. The criteria for actuating such a warning are the relative speeds of the vehicles involved, their distance from one another, and the time reserve still remaining for emergency application of the brakes.

Should the car be equipped with BMW’s optional Head-Up Display, this forewarning is also presented graphically in the windscreen.

The Brake Assistant distance warner is always at the disposal of the driver, regardless of whether he has activated the car’s Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go or not.

Setting the brake system to standby.

As soon as the driver takes his foot off the gas pedal on account of the warning he receives, the system will automatically increase engine drag to reduce the speed of the vehicle even before the driver operates the brakes. At the same time the brake system is set to standby by reducing the activation thresholds of the hydraulic Brake Assistant.

With pressure building up in the brake system immediately, a further important function is that the brake pads are moved up to the brake discs without noticeably decelerating the car. Then, in the event of an emergency, these precautions allow the brake system to build up maximum brake power much more quickly, reducing any time-lag to a minimum. And should, finally, the driver not respond to the warning, he will be alerted by an additional optical signal or a warning buzzer, telling him to take action.

Faster build-up of pressure for shorter brake distances.

Now, once the driver presses down the brake pedal, the pre-conditioned Brake Assistant will detect the emergency braking function and make sure that brake pressure is built up quickly according to current requirements – if necessary going all the way to the ABS brake mode. This significantly shortens the car’s stopping distances and ensures valuable safety reserves.

Even in situations where a collision is unavoidable, Adaptive Brake Assist will make a significant contribution to extra safety, helping to protect the car’s occupants from the consequences of a collision. For once the action described has been taken, the speed of the car will be reduced quickly and effectively, lowering the speed at impact to the lowest possible level. A further point is that the safety system will activate the belt latch tensioners shortly before impact, ensuring that both driver and passenger are in an optimum position on their seats and thus keeping the risk of injury to a minimum.