Cameras: the sixth sense

Driver assistance systems are one of the highest growth segments in vehicle electronics. Market analyst Mercer Management Consulting believes the North American and European markets will be worth €2.5billion in 2010. Currently, systems with radar, ultrasound and infrared sensors are fighting for the lion’s share of the market; the growth drivers, however, are camera based systems. According to estimates from Sharp, the growth potential for camera sensors will be around 42% on average over the next five years. Other experts are even anticipating an annual growth of more than 60% over the same period. The advantage of cameras is obvious: unlike radar, ultrasound and infrared sensors, cameras supply a complete image of the driving situation. For humans, it is considerably easier to assess situations using a specific image, rather than being told how far it is to the next obstacle via an acoustic signal when they’re trying to park. Until now, there has been no alternative to this abstract form of driver information. But the introduction of lcds designed specially for automotive cockpit applications makes it possible to provide drivers with complete image information about what is happening around their car. The most precise visual input is provided by cameras that will enhance the sensorium of driver assistance systems in the future as image sensors. Strictly speaking, the broad field of driver assistance systems is subdivided into two fundamentally different segments. The first category involves 'visual aids' for the driver. Systems like these aid visibility by supplying additional information from around the vehicle via different sensors – for instance, about obstacles or other road users in the blind spot or at night. However, it is left to the driver to assess this information and to react to it. This contrasts with active driver assistance systems, which help to avoid accidents or to adapt speed to the density of traffic and speed restrictions. These not only inform the driver about the driving situation, but also intervene actively in the driving process. These different functionalities result in fundamentally different sensor requirements. Sensors for active driver assistance systems have to be fast. At high speed, the system has to record a critical driving situation, assess it and initiate the corresponding measures in real time – a fraction of a second.