Overview

Here we begin the first of several chapters focusing on particular functions and services enabled by IV technology. No segmentation of these functions is perfect; however, for our purposes I have settled upon distinguishing between lateral/side sensing systems, longitudinally oriented systems, and then systems that integrate both for this and the next two chapters.

Referring to Chapter 3, we can extract applications relating to lateral control assistance as follows:

• Lane departure warning;

• Road departure warning;

• Curve over-speed countermeasures;

• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA);

• Parallel parking assist;

• Blind spot monitoring;

• Lane change assist;

• Rollover collision avoidance.

Lateral support systems rely on some knowledge of the lane boundaries or road trajectory. Lane detection relies almost exclusively on image processing to detect lane marking, and digital maps and satellite positioning can be used for knowledge on the road geometry ahead. Side sensing detects objects in an adjacent motorway lane, into which a driver may wish to move; either image processing or ranging sensors are used.

Rollover collision avoidance is geared to large trucks. These systems rely on the measurement of the physical forces that are the precursors to a truck rollover. These systems are useful to operators of cars, trucks, and buses, but the rationale and utility varies across them.

For drivers of passenger cars, features such as lane departure and curve over-speed warning refer directly back to the capabilities and awareness of the driver. This is not the case, for instance, with forward collision...