Parts Maker Develops Technology for Commercial Vehicle 'Safety Cocoon'

Concept technologies are 'aware of the road even when the driver isn't'

HANOVER, Germany, Sept. 22 -- Delphi Corp. is developing a portfolio of products that may help the European Commission meet its goal of reducing by half the number of road fatalities by 2010.

At this week's 60th International Motor Show (IAA) for Commercial Vehicles, Delphi is unveiling its latest safety products that help to provide a "safety cocoon" around vehicles on the road.

"Our safety products are aware of the road, even when the driver isn't," said J.T. Battenberg, III, Delphi chairman, chief executive officer and president. "This latest portfolio of safety technologies helps keep light-, medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle drivers safe while also helping to protect their vehicles and loads."

Delphi will display at its booth a safety truck outfitted with more than a dozen current and concept safety products. These products work together to alert a driver to a potentially dangerous situation whether it's on the road ahead, inside the vehicle or outside the driver's field of view.

"Advanced safety technologies, in general, can go a long way in helping to avoid accidents," said Volker J. Barth, Delphi vice president, Delphi Corp. and president, Delphi Europe. "At Delphi, our engineers developed safety products to address many of the specific safety challenges commercial vehicle drivers face each day."

Front Object Detection

One of the essential parts of vehicle safety is the ability to detect objects in front of the vehicle. Delphi has created several systems working together to detect objects in front of the vehicle to help warn of and prevent accidents, and to help minimize the impact of a collision once an accident becomes unavoidable. Forewarn(R) smart cruise control, headway alert, forward collision warning and pre-crash warning use a multifunctional, mechanically scanning, long-range 76 GHz radar sensor to detect and classify vehicles in a truck's path up to 150 meters (402 feet) ahead.

"Delphi feels these products may help cut the number of accidents involving CVs," Barth said. "Actually, the General Association of the German Insurance Industry (GDV) has also recommended the use of safety systems like headway control systems."

The headway alert feature assists the driver in maintaining the appropriate following distances to the in-lane traffic ahead of the truck. The system provides visual or audible alerts to the driver when a pre- determined timed-headway boundary to the next preceding in-lane vehicle is violated. Meanwhile, the forward collision warning feature provides the capability to detect the high probability of an accident, in response to a slower moving vehicle ahead. Based on the assessed threat, the system gives the driver a separate audible or visual warning to allow the driver to redirect focus, assess the threat and make the appropriate evasive maneuver, such as braking or steering.

In cases where an accident becomes unavoidable, the pre-crash warning feature determines the trajectory of the oncoming target, time of impact, impact velocity and point of impact. The pre-crash warning system uses the information to determine the appropriate available safety mitigation countermeasures to further help protect the occupants such as the pretensioning of seat belts and active braking.

Delphi is also showing its night vision system, which uses a near- infrared-sensitive camera module with near-infrared high-beam illuminators or headlamps to help drivers who travel at night. The near-IR night vision system provides a more natural-looking image to the driver than the traditional thermal night vision. Because it is infrared, Delphi's system allows the driver to see non-thermal intensive objects including trees, street signs and mailboxes.

Delphi's system provides the high-beam visibility capability without blinding oncoming drivers, because near-IR light is not visible to humans. The camera has the capability to pick up objects more than 100 meters away and projects the forward view image onto a display that is visible only to the driver, which avoids distracting drivers in other vehicles. The system is also unaffected by increased glare caused by xenon lamps and other headlight technology.

Side Object Detection

Delphi's 24 GHz short-range Forewarn radar sensor helps alert the driver to vehicles or objects in adjacent lanes. If there is an obstacle in the lane and the driver signals a lane change on that side, an audible or visual alert allows the driver to take the appropriate action.

The system is a convenient single-package unit that contains an integrated radar and controller that can be hidden behind the side of the truck body fascia and will not compromise the styling of the vehicle. It works in a wide range of environmental conditions including ice, rain or fog. Dirt and dark skies will not impair its operability.

Turning Assist

In many turning maneuvers, the side mirrors do not provide a sufficient viewing angle to allow the driver to "see" and react to any objects along the entire length of the tractor and trailer. Delphi's turning assist feature will help the driver in these situations. Using a monocular camera, a wide field of view is displayed for the driver's viewing on an in-cabin screen, allowing a clear view along the entire length of the tractor and trailer.

Lane Departure Warning

According to recent data, 36 percent of accidents on European highways are caused by unintentional lane departures. Designed to help alert commercial vehicle drivers of these situations, Delphi's lane departure warning will use vision technology to detect roadway markers ahead of the vehicle, and help alert drivers appropriately of a lane departure.

The system uses a monocular camera mounted behind the vehicle's windshield to track lanes in front of the vehicle. It estimates lane width, road curvature and accurately determines a vehicle's heading and lateral position in the lane. If a vehicle strays out of its lane, the system detects the change and issues an audible, tactile or visual warning to the driver.

Rear Object Detection

A 24 GHz short-range radar sensor paired with a monocular camera is used to assist the driver in detecting vehicles or objects behind the vehicle. If an object is detected, a visual or audible warning is activated. The radar sensor can be hidden behind the rear bumper's fascia so as not to compromise the styling of the vehicle. The system is a convenient single package unit that contains an integrated radar sensor and controller and provides an accurate distance measurement to the object.

In addition to the active alert provided by the radar system, the camera, which is installed on the rear of the vehicle, provides a wide-angle view of the immediate area located behind the truck. The rear image is projected on either an existing navigation display or a traditional aftermarket display. The wide-angle "fish-eye" effect for the camera view is optically corrected by a unique patent-pending Delphi technology.

This product is enhanced with wireless communications to allow the integrated radar and camera module to be mounted on a trailer bumper and transmit the vital data to the tractor without the need to install additional trailer cables.

Fifth Wheel Camera

Hoping to help increase cabin and trailer safety, Delphi has installed a camera on the outside back of the cabin to help keep watch on the fifth wheel, where the trailer is joined to the truck body. The wide-angle picture from the camera is viewed on a display inside the cab of the vehicle, where the driver can monitor any suspicious activities near the fifth wheel.

Workload Management

A recent European study showed that one of the main reasons for commercial vehicle accidents is driver fatigue. Delphi's Workload Management systems can help eliminate some of those accidents by analyzing a driver's condition and, if necessary, provide countermeasures to alert the driver of a potentially dangerous situation.

Delphi's drowsy driver and driver distraction alert systems use a vision- based monocular camera sensing system located in the instrument panel of the vehicle. The drowsy driver system monitors eye closure over a period of time to determine the driver's state.

Driver distraction alert, meanwhile, monitors the driver's level of visual distraction by tracking a driver's gaze and head position, which will stray from the forward position for an extended period of time during a distraction situation.

Based on the level of distraction or drowsiness, the system applies stimuli to help alert the driver of the situation or could automatically apply a countermeasure commensurate with the level of distraction.

Security Assistance

With Delphi's security assistance feature, turning assist cameras also work with a rear object sensing camera to help provide the driver additional security. These cameras provide a wide-angle view of the tractor doors and trailer cargo doors. When the security feature is enabled and the motion detector detects anyone near the tractor/trailer doors, the camera will activate, allowing the driver to preview the situation and take appropriate action.

Rollover Sensor

Delphi's remote rollover sensor is capable of providing three stages of rollover warning -- detection, mitigation and protection -- when incorporated with other safety features. The sensor measures the commercial vehicle's angular position, rate or acceleration and applies a patented Delphi algorithm to estimate current and immediate-future rollover stages. If a rollover begins, the truck's safety features alert the driver to the possible accident. In the event that the rollover cannot be corrected, Delphi's safety systems can engage products -- including a pretensioning seatbelt or airbag -- that will help protect the driver during the accident.

Human Machine Interface

Delphi's safety products alert commercial vehicle drivers to potentially dangerous situations using several different methods. If a camera is utilized, the driver views a real-time picture on an in-vehicle display. Alerts may also be heard, felt or seen through audible, tactile and visual warnings delivered through side mirrors, the instrument panel, steering wheel, driver's seat or seatbelt.

Additionally, because these subsystems work with workload management products the alerts are adaptive and can be tailored to the constantly changing environment of the road.

For more information please visit Delphi's display at the show in Hall 17, Stand No. A06.