APIA: Continental is Developing the Car That Can Help Avoid Accidents

DETROIT, March 9 -- With the APIA project -- APIA stands for Active Passive Integration Approach -- Continental started work on the car of the future that will feature electronic reflexes that will help drivers maintain control and avoid accidents. Now two automakers have commissioned the company to undertake advanced design work on the system which can take action to help prevent accidents or at least minimize the risk of injury.

As it goes about its work, APIA relies on data interchange between all of the active and passive safety systems that collect information on the activities of the driver, the behavior of the vehicle, and the status of the driving environment. The key component of APIA is the danger control module. For any given situation, this module computes a hazard potential which reflects the current accident risk.

Staged response to accident risk

If the hazard potential reaches a defined limit, the danger control module initiates a staged hazard response strategy. If an accident appears imminent because the driver fails to recognize that the vehicle ahead has slowed or braked suddenly, the following APIA responses are possible:

  *  a visual or haptic (sensory) warning to the driver
  *  pressure in the brake system is boosted for rapid reaction
  *  the seat belts are pre-tensioned to take up the slack
  *  the side windows and sliding roof are closed
  *  APIA actively applies the brakes up to a deceleration of 0.3 g
  *  front seats are brought to the ideal position for the airbags

If the driver then also applies the brakes, the extended Brake Assist system detects the start of emergency braking from the rapid motion of the driver's foot from gas pedal to brake. As the system pressure has already been boosted, maximum brake pressure is applied straight away. The reversible seat belt tensioners are activated with maximum power. And if, despite emergency braking, a collision occurs, the danger control module activates the smart airbags according to the type and severity of the impact.

The full range of responses described above is only available if the vehicle is fitted with a brake system with externally controllable ESP, and with ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control). Without ACC sensors, the danger control module bases its decisions on the control status of active safety systems such as Brake Assist, ESP, and Active Rollover Protection (ARP), in order to improve passive safety using less comprehensive measures.

Environment sensors and image processing are key technologies

State-of-the-art vehicle environment sensors play a key role in the APIA system. Continental Temic is currently working on a pre-crash sensor by the name of Closing Velocity (CV). This highly dynamic sensor, which features a wide short-distance detection range, is ideal for detecting events in the vicinity of the vehicle and enables quite precise predictions of the severity and direction of an impending impact. The CV sensor can also be used in combination with additional contact sensors in pedestrian protection systems.

In vehicles of the future which will benefit from full-speed-range ACC, data on objects in the immediate vicinity will also be available courtesy of 24 GHz radar sensors, for example. Such data will be useful not only for new comfort and convenience features such as active parking assistance, with automatic steering and braking support, but also for improved APIA functions such as the effective use of reversible passive safety systems.

Image-processing camera systems will allow an even more dramatic improvement in safety. These systems will not only detect objects near to a vehicle but classify them as well. Safety systems can then be activated as appropriate for a given situation, providing even more effective protection for vehicle occupants and making active pedestrian protection systems a realistic prospect.

Above and beyond this, engineers at Continental Teves are currently working on ways of using road-map data digitized for navigation purposes to optimize driver assistance systems. If a vehicle approaches a sharp bend too fast, for example, the driver can be warned by means of an active gas pedal. And if ACC is activated, the system can either automatically slow the vehicle in good time, or prompt the driver to do so.

With 2002 sales of approximately $12 billion (US), Continental AG is a major supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical rubber products. Continental Automotive Systems' North American operation is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich. For additional information, visit these websites: www.conti-online.com and www.contitevesna.com