Bosch video-based emergency braking fitted as standard in Land Rover Discovery Sport
- Bosch stereo video camera is single-sensor solution for assistance systems
- Land Rover Discovery Sport received top Euro NCAP ‘safety assist’ score
- Bosch stereo video camera for automotive applications is smallest on market
- 3D imaging capability is an important building block for automated driving
Emergency braking systems are among the most effective assistance systems in the car. It is estimated that three out of four rear-end collisions resulting in personal injury could be avoided if all vehicles were equipped with them. Bosch has developed a stereo video camera with which an emergency braking system can function based solely on camera data. Normally, this would require a radar sensor or a combination of radar and video sensors.
“The Bosch stereo video camera is a single-sensor solution that makes various assistance functions affordable for all vehicle classes,” says Dr. Dirk Hoheisel, who sits on the Bosch board of management. Land Rover offers the stereo video camera together with the Bosch emergency braking system as standard in its new Discovery Sport. This system was developed in intensive and close collaboration between Bosch and Land Rover.
The Discovery Sport proved how effective the function is in a Euro NCAP test: it was rated as ‘good’ in the AEB city and AEB interurban categories. Overall, the Discovery Sport passed the test with five stars and achieved one of the best results in the ‘safety assist’ category for 2014. The Discovery Sport has also been awarded the What Car? Car of the Year Safety Award 2015 in the UK.
Important building block for automated driving
Besides the emergency braking system, the new Land Rover Discovery Sport offers other driver assistance functions, some of which are also based on the Bosch stereo video camera. One such function is road-sign recognition, which keeps the driver informed about the current speed limit. Another is a lane-departure warning system.
“The Bosch stereo video camera and its 3D imaging capability are also an important building block for automated driving,” says Hoheisel. Its pair of highly sensitive video sensors are equipped with colour recognition and CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) technology. They have a resolution of 1,280 by 960 pixels and can also process high-contrast images.
The smallest stereo video camera currently on the market
One of the biggest advantages offered by the Bosch stereo video camera is its compact design. The distance between the optical axes of the lenses is just twelve centimetres, making this the smallest system of its kind currently available in the field of automotive applications. Bosch developers have integrated the control unit for image processing and function control directly into the camera housing. That means vehicle manufacturers can integrate the camera into the rear-view mirror especially easily, impeding the field of vision only slightly.
“We’re pleased to say that Bosch developed the entire stereo video camera in house from start to finish,” says Hoheisel. As a result, all components, from hardware to image processing to the functions, are designed to work together seamlessly.
Contact: Sabrina Mayeen, 44 (0) 1895 838813
Mobility Solutions is the largest Bosch Group business sector. In 2014, its sales came to 33.3 billion euros, or 68 percent of total group sales. This makes the Bosch Group one of the leading automotive suppliers. The Mobility Solutions business sector combines the group’s expertise in three mobility domains – automation, electrification, and connectivity – and offers its customers integrated mobility solutions. Its main areas of activity are injection technology and powertrain peripherals for internal-combustion engines, diverse solutions for powertrain electrification, vehicle safety systems, driver-assistance and automated functions, technology for user-friendly infotainment as well as car-to-car and Car2X communication, repair-shop concepts, and technology and services for the automotive aftermarket. Bosch has been responsible for important automotive innovations, such as electronic engine management, the ESP anti-skid system, and common-rail diesel technology.
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 360,000 associates worldwide (as per April 1, 2015). The company generated sales of 49 billion euros in 2014.* Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including its sales and service partners, Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. In 2014, Bosch applied for some 4,600 patents worldwide. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to create solutions for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.”
Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.co.uk and www.bosch-press.com.
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*The sales figure disclosed for 2014 does not include the former joint ventures BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH (now BSH Hausgeräte GmbH) and ZF Lenksysteme GmbH (now Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH), which have since been taken over completely.
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