Pretty sweet.. not new, but sweet!
Two new driver assistance systems will increase safety and comfort when driving at night.
· With the thermal imaging camera of BMW Night Vision, people, animals and objects can be detected early on.
· BMW is the first premium manufacturer in Europe to use Far Infrared (FIR) technology. According to scientific studies, FIR is best suited for the detection of living beings at night.
· High-Beam Assist automatically activates and deactivates the high beam.
· More use of the high beam, no dazzling of other road users, relief for the driver, increased safety.
Driving in the dark is still one of the most strenuous driving situations and one which tends to bear greater risks. For years, BMW has developed innovative technologies which provide relief for drivers at night and thus at the same time improve general road safety.
With the new driver assistance systems BMW Night Vision and High-Beam Assist, BMW drivers will be able to drive with even greater foresight in the half light and at night. Critical situations can be identified earlier than was previously possible and one’s driving style adapted accordingly. In addition to providing a significant safety bonus, it is a relief to the driver when potentially critical situations are detected early on and redundant operations avoided. The driver thus experiences a significant gain in comfort.
BMW Night Vision:
Innovative infrared technology for greater security in the dark.
Relief of the driver and active partner protection.
A thermal imaging camera covers an area up to 300 m in front of the vehicle. The image thus created on the central monitor displays objects more brilliantly, the greater the warmth registered by the camera. People (pedestrians at the edge of the road) and animals (wild animals crossing the road) would thus be the brightest areas of the image – at the same time these are the most important points to concentrate on when driving responsibly style. BMW Night Vision offers customers particular benefits over routes through the country, along narrow roads, entrance drives and in dark underground garages, tangibly increasing safety when driving at night.
Based on comparative studies, BMW engineers have opted for the innovative Far Infrared (FIR) technology since it best meets the goal of detecting people, animals and objects at night. Scientific studies also prove that FIR is a more suitable technology than Near Infrared (NIR) for performing this function. In addition to the fundamental advantages of FIR, BMW has extended the technology by adding other functional features. For example, the image section follows the course of the road (panning) and objects in the distance can be enlarged (zoom). BMW Night Vision is activated/deactivated simply by means of a switch next to the light switch. BMW Night Vision is planned to be available in the BMW 7 Series as of fourth quarter 2005.
High-Beam Assist:
More use of high beam on the road. Relief for the driver.
With High-Beam Assist, available from September 2005 in the BMW 5 Series, 6 Series and 7 Series, a camera sensor integrated in the rear mirror casing registers activity on the road and automatically controls the activation and deactivation of the high beam. The system identifies the headlights and rear lights of vehicles, as well as the surrounding road lighting. The high beam switches on in the absence of vehicles on the road ahead or oncoming traffic, provided the road itself is not sufficiently illuminated. BMW is the first European premium manufacturer to offer such a system.
A scientific study in the US has shown that the high beam is used very rarely, although such use is possible and even desirable in many situations. High-Beam Assist makes a significant contribution to ensuring the high-beam is used more frequently. It also prevents other road users from being dazzled if the driver switches to low beam too late or not at all. At the same time it relieves the driver and increases comfort. All in all, High-Beam Assist makes for an increase in safety.
Xenon light, Adaptive Headlight, High-Beam Assist, BMW Night Vision:
BMW initiative for safe and relaxed driving at night.
BMW Night Vision and High-Beam Assist represent the current high point of an initiative by BMW to make nocturnal driving safer for all road users and to offer the driver increased comfort. Xenon light, which provides significantly increase brilliance and range, was introduced in the year 1991 (Bi-Xenon for low and high beam in 2001). It was followed by the Adaptive Headlight in 2003, whose horizontally swivelling headlamps ensure considerably improved illumination of the road ahead.
BMW driver assistance systems:
Intelligent relief of the driver, without taking away control
The function of BMW driver assistance systems is to support the driver in certain situations without taking away his responsibility. The driver remains the sole “master” of the vehicle. On the one hand, driver assistance systems serve the purpose of providing the driver with improved information on potential dangers or giving him an early warning. On the other hand they provide relief by taking on simple, repetitive tasks. In general, more information is a bonus in road traffic: up to 50% of all serious accidents are caused by the fact that the driver did not have information early enough. A linear increase in the quantity of information is not the aim, however. Important information must be qualitatively processed and made available at the right moment. In addition to increasing safety for vehicle occupants and other road users, BMW driver assistance systems also increase driving pleasure.
Two new driver assistance systems will increase safety and comfort when driving at night.
· With the thermal imaging camera of BMW Night Vision, people, animals and objects can be detected early on.
· BMW is the first premium manufacturer in Europe to use Far Infrared (FIR) technology. According to scientific studies, FIR is best suited for the detection of living beings at night.
· High-Beam Assist automatically activates and deactivates the high beam.
· More use of the high beam, no dazzling of other road users, relief for the driver, increased safety.
Driving in the dark is still one of the most strenuous driving situations and one which tends to bear greater risks. For years, BMW has developed innovative technologies which provide relief for drivers at night and thus at the same time improve general road safety.
With the new driver assistance systems BMW Night Vision and High-Beam Assist, BMW drivers will be able to drive with even greater foresight in the half light and at night. Critical situations can be identified earlier than was previously possible and one’s driving style adapted accordingly. In addition to providing a significant safety bonus, it is a relief to the driver when potentially critical situations are detected early on and redundant operations avoided. The driver thus experiences a significant gain in comfort.
BMW Night Vision:
Innovative infrared technology for greater security in the dark.
Relief of the driver and active partner protection.
A thermal imaging camera covers an area up to 300 m in front of the vehicle. The image thus created on the central monitor displays objects more brilliantly, the greater the warmth registered by the camera. People (pedestrians at the edge of the road) and animals (wild animals crossing the road) would thus be the brightest areas of the image – at the same time these are the most important points to concentrate on when driving responsibly style. BMW Night Vision offers customers particular benefits over routes through the country, along narrow roads, entrance drives and in dark underground garages, tangibly increasing safety when driving at night.
Based on comparative studies, BMW engineers have opted for the innovative Far Infrared (FIR) technology since it best meets the goal of detecting people, animals and objects at night. Scientific studies also prove that FIR is a more suitable technology than Near Infrared (NIR) for performing this function. In addition to the fundamental advantages of FIR, BMW has extended the technology by adding other functional features. For example, the image section follows the course of the road (panning) and objects in the distance can be enlarged (zoom). BMW Night Vision is activated/deactivated simply by means of a switch next to the light switch. BMW Night Vision is planned to be available in the BMW 7 Series as of fourth quarter 2005.
High-Beam Assist:
More use of high beam on the road. Relief for the driver.
With High-Beam Assist, available from September 2005 in the BMW 5 Series, 6 Series and 7 Series, a camera sensor integrated in the rear mirror casing registers activity on the road and automatically controls the activation and deactivation of the high beam. The system identifies the headlights and rear lights of vehicles, as well as the surrounding road lighting. The high beam switches on in the absence of vehicles on the road ahead or oncoming traffic, provided the road itself is not sufficiently illuminated. BMW is the first European premium manufacturer to offer such a system.
A scientific study in the US has shown that the high beam is used very rarely, although such use is possible and even desirable in many situations. High-Beam Assist makes a significant contribution to ensuring the high-beam is used more frequently. It also prevents other road users from being dazzled if the driver switches to low beam too late or not at all. At the same time it relieves the driver and increases comfort. All in all, High-Beam Assist makes for an increase in safety.
Xenon light, Adaptive Headlight, High-Beam Assist, BMW Night Vision:
BMW initiative for safe and relaxed driving at night.
BMW Night Vision and High-Beam Assist represent the current high point of an initiative by BMW to make nocturnal driving safer for all road users and to offer the driver increased comfort. Xenon light, which provides significantly increase brilliance and range, was introduced in the year 1991 (Bi-Xenon for low and high beam in 2001). It was followed by the Adaptive Headlight in 2003, whose horizontally swivelling headlamps ensure considerably improved illumination of the road ahead.
BMW driver assistance systems:
Intelligent relief of the driver, without taking away control
The function of BMW driver assistance systems is to support the driver in certain situations without taking away his responsibility. The driver remains the sole “master” of the vehicle. On the one hand, driver assistance systems serve the purpose of providing the driver with improved information on potential dangers or giving him an early warning. On the other hand they provide relief by taking on simple, repetitive tasks. In general, more information is a bonus in road traffic: up to 50% of all serious accidents are caused by the fact that the driver did not have information early enough. A linear increase in the quantity of information is not the aim, however. Important information must be qualitatively processed and made available at the right moment. In addition to increasing safety for vehicle occupants and other road users, BMW driver assistance systems also increase driving pleasure.
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