Traffic Area Monitoring, Basic Function - GF54.71-P-1000A

Model all (CAR) 

General 

Actively intervening driver assistance systems evaluate the traffic situation in front of, beside and behind the vehicle in order to define the amount of free space for possible system reactions.

Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Traffic area monitoring 

The area in front of, beside and behind the vehicle is sensed and evaluated by various radar sensors or by the multifunction camera, depending on the vehicle equipment installed.

The radar sensors can register both the close range around the vehicle to the front, rear and sides, as well as the long range to the front and rear, depending on type.

The multifunction camera can, depending on the version, derive the following information from detected objects according to a movement profile:

• The detected object is a pedestrian.
• The detected object is a bike rider.
• The detected object is a vehicle.
• The direction of movement of the detected object is perpendicular to the direction of travel.

The information of the radar sensors or the multifunction camera is used to avoid collisions with objects in the vehicle's lane or in the event of lane changes as much as possible. The driver assistance system decides whether system reactions are necessary depending on the closing speed and the relative positions in the lane.

The following situations can lead to a system reaction, for example when changing to the parallel/oncoming lane:

• Approaching vehicle in the oncoming lane Vehicles in the oncoming lane are detected by the front radar sensor and by the multifunction camera.
• Slow vehicle in the parallel lane being overtaken Vehicles in the right or left parallel lane in front of the vehicle are detected by the front radar sensor and by the multifunction camera.
• Overtaking vehicle in the parallel lane Vehicles approaching from behind at a high speed differential relative to the vehicle are detected by the rear radar sensors.
• Vehicle in the parallel lane (at approximately the same level) Vehicles in the right or left parallel lane and level with the vehicle are detected by the rear radar sensors.
• Guardrails or a series of stationary vehicles behind the lane markings Objects behind the lane markings are detected by the front radar sensor and by the multifunction camera.
• Swinging-in vehicles (as of market launch of model 167) Vehicles that swing-in sharply from the right or left parallel-running lane are detected by the radar sensors at front left and right.