Valeo Applies Sensor Fusion Technology to Maximize Driver Confidence and Convenience During Reversing Maneuvers

    PARIS--Jan. 29, 2003--Valeo (Paris: FR; OTC: VLEEY) today announced the successful development and application of "Sensor Fusion" technology to create an innovative "Visual Park Assist" system that is set to maximize driver confidence and convenience when attempting reversing maneuvers.
    Studies have shown that drivers often experience difficulty and sometimes increased stress levels when performing such maneuvers.
    Valeo has already achieved market leadership in Ultrasonic Park Assist (UPA) systems that alert the driver to hidden obstacles by an audible warning from miniature bumper-mounted sensors. Valeo has now deployed its expertise in Sensor Fusion to the objective of improving the driver's ability to actually see hidden obstacles. The system also provides recommended trajectory when reverse parking.
    Valeo engineers have employed "Sensor Fusion" technology to link, process and display vital information from three, previously separate, sensing systems to further improve driver confidence and convenience during reversing and parking maneuvers.
    When reversing, a miniature bumper-mounted camera is used to supply continuous wide-angle images of the space to the rear of the vehicle. These images are then processed, using a built-in algorithm to minimize distortion, before being clearly presented to the driver on a dash-mounted LCD display.
    Sensor Fusion enables data from the second source, the steering angle sensor, to be accessed and processed before also being presented on the driver's display. This data is interpreted to provide continuous information on the vehicle's trajectory as it reverses and is represented on the display by a series of colored "navigation" lines that the driver follows by turning the steering wheel in the appropriate direction.
    To provide the system with maximum capability, information from a third data source, the UPA sensors, is accessed to provide "live" information on the precise closing distance to any obstacle to the rear of the vehicle. This information is also processed and superimposed on the driver's display, both as spatially correlated colored bars and as numerical data. The measurement ranges from two meters down to 25 centimeters. If this point is reached, the command "stop" is displayed.
    The fusing of information from these three complex data sources achieves a meaningful, easy-to-use, real-time display of all the essential data a driver requires to successfully complete every reversing and parking maneuver, the first time, every time.
    Valeo has recently installed the system on its "Seeing & Being Seen" technology demonstrator vehicle which the company is previewing to car manufacturers during 2003.
    Two years ago Valeo initiated a unique approach to its technology and marketing strategy - the "Domains" approach to market-led innovation. This approach aligned its R&D activities and systems expertise to closely match the anticipated future needs of car makers and consumers.
    For technologies like Sensor Fusion, the "Seeing and Being Seen" Domain approach has maximized R&D synergies across Valeo Branches and has accessed expertise from selected technology partners. The goal is to address the single consumer and car maker need for enhanced all-round visibility, both from within and from outside the vehicle, in all weathers and traffic conditions.
    In addition to presenting systems developed from new technologies, such as Sensor Fusion, the demonstrator vehicle also showcases Valeo's technical expertise in linking discrete components or sub-systems to provide innovative new vehicle features, the market potential for which can be quickly and easily evaluated by car makers. This evaluation process can be performed under realistic driving conditions. In addition, the flexibility to configure the performance of each new system to meet specific customer needs contributes to robust solutions and reduced time-to-market.
    Valeo is an independent industrial Group fully focused on the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks. Valeo ranks among the world's top automotive suppliers. The Group has 139 plants, 53 R&D centers, 10 distribution centers and employs nearly 71,000 people in 25 countries worldwide.
    For more information on the Group and its businesses, consult our Web site: www.valeo.com