LOCKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. is highlighting its advanced video camera technology at an event in Locke Township, Mich., today.
The company is demonstrating its “S-CAM” camera sensor as well as outlining plans to invest in a third generation camera in anticipation of increasing regulatory focus for forward collision warning and lane keeping systems in North America.
Peter Lake, executive vice president, sales and business development, said, "In North America, in the coming five years, we expect to see a strong trend to implement camera systems – particularly in light of the high frequency of accidents caused by lane drift.
"According to 2010 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, 53 percent of road fatalities result from a roadway departure, and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) data estimates that lane departure warning and lane keeping assist systems could save more than 7,500 lives in the USA each year."
TRW’s next-generation camera will build on the current feature set of its production S-Cam (headlight control, lane detection, traffic sign recognition and vehicle detection and classification for automatic emergency braking), with focus on improved pedestrian detection functionality as this becomes a key safety target throughout Europe and the United States.
Alois Seewald, global director for integrated active and passive safety technologies said, "We’ll be able to bundle a wide range of safety features into a single sensor – offering an attractive and affordable solution for multiple vehicle segments. Additionally, the camera will be capable of meeting the sensing requirements to enable low speed automatic emergency braking."
The development is a continuation of the successful partnership between TRW and Mobileye in place for TRW’s current production S-Cam forward-looking camera, available today in the European and Asian markets and within the next year in the U.S. market.
Seewald added, "The video camera is an extremely versatile driver assist systems sensor because it can classify a wide range of relevant objects. This information can then be processed and used with other driver assist functions, or integrated with other sensors. Due to its ‘multi-tasking’ capability and the fact that it offers a scalable solution to integrate multiple convenience and safety functions within one unit, we have received significant interest and a number of production contracts from passenger car and commercial vehicle manufacturers."
