Continental launches turn assist system
Vehicle technology group Continental has developed a radar-based turn assist system, RightViu, which it says represents an easy retrofit option for heavy-duty commercial vehicle fleets.
Suitable for both HGV and PSV applications, the exclusively radar-based solution also detects and classifies cyclists and pedestrians, says Continental, while workshops can install the system quickly and easily.
“Increasing the safety of vulnerable cyclists and pedestrians is an important social responsibility,” says Gilles Mabire, head of the Commercial Vehicles & Services business unit at Continental.
“Accidents caused by turning trucks, buses or coaches are particularly in focus because they are often serious. We at Continental are fully aware of our responsibility, in line with our Vision Zero strategy, and are therefore bringing a sophisticated system onto the market with our radar-based solution.”
Georg Kliewer, head of aftermarket products for special vehicles at Continental, added: “We believe that our solution is ideal for detecting cyclists in the blind spot, distinguishing them from other objects, and avoiding serious accidents.
“Unlike camera-based or ultrasound-based systems, the sensor system detects whether it really is a cyclist or a pedestrian. The package is also easy to install.”
RightViu can be fitted to vehicles in just a few short steps, says the company, and does not require a display in the cabin. The radar is installed on the mount of the rear-view mirror, so no holes need to be made in the vehicle body. The system uses the existing CAN bus in the vehicle.
Time-consuming work, such as laying additional cables in the cab, is eliminated, adds Continental; the only requirement is that the radar must be installed at a height of at least two metres so that it has the right detection range.
Continental’s developers are currently working on a solution for light commercial vehicles that will also be radar-based.
The radar ensures particularly reliable detection of other road users beside the vehicle, says the company; the monitored area is four metres to the side of the vehicle and up to 14 metres behind the front.
The VRU (Vulnerable Road User) software evaluates the information from the radar sensors. If a cyclist is within the coverage area, the driver is warned acoustically and visually.
The warning strategy follows the Continental principle of relieving the driver of the flood of information in the cabin, says the company, and always providing the right information at the right time.
“We deliberately decided against the additional use of displays,” explained Georg Kliewer.
“Drivers receive a clear warning signal, which directs their attention to the hazardous situation so that the risk of a possible collision can be detected in time. The additional information of where the person is located, which is provided on the display image, is often irrelevant at this moment in time.”
If a visual display on a monitor is nevertheless requested, Continental can provide this.
