KOSTAL Mechatronik-Module

Driver assistance

Ambitious national and international objectives for the further reduction of traffic accidents and deaths, together with the continuing trend towards autonomous driving, require powerful sensors to cover the immediate environment of the vehicle, providing support for the driver in the medium term and possibly even replacing the driver in the long term.

Camera-based driver assistance

Camera systems checking the immediate and longer-distance field of vision in front of the vehicle can make immediate decisions affecting steering and braking and these are fast becoming one of the standard driver assistance sensor systems in the vehicle. In addition to safety-related functions such as lane keeping and emergency braking assistance when faced with other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, driver assistance cameras can implement a whole range of comfort functions.

KOSTAL Fahrerassistenz

Robust and design-orientated

The latest generation of KOSTAL cameras combines optimum functional quality, attractive design and a particularly robust optical path in a single mechatronic unit. Scalable high-performance processors, state-of-the-art image processing algorithms from our system partner Mobileye and a megapixel image sensor specially designed for automotive applications form the core of the KOSTAL camera platform. 

To ensure maximum resistance to typical problem factors such as dirt or fogging on the camera lens the camera is attached directly to the windscreen, using a special optical prism. At the same time the area of the windscreen through which the camera operates is drastically reduced, permitting optimum integration into the vehicle design.


Automatic emergency braking as an integrated function

The KOSTAL driver assistance camera is designed to ASIL B(C) as a safety-relevant product. Powerful image processing algorithms provide direct control of the braking system and initiate the emergency braking function if pedestrians are detected or if there are vehicles in front which are too close. The system operates at speeds of up to 80 km/h. 

Additional ambient sensors such as radar or lidar systems are not required and this makes for an optimum solution for OEMs and the end-customer in terms of system costs. The KOSTAL camera meets the 2016 EUNCAP 5-Star stipulations for emergency braking assistance systems and is already validated for EUNCAP 2018.


KOSTAL Fahrerassistenz

Scalable and proven in operation

The current camera module offers complete scalability in its functions, from basic warning and comfort functions to the control of matrix-beam headlights and emergency braking assistance. Customer functions in the top-range version include the lane keeping assistance and traffic sign recognition.

Future-oriented

The current camera generation will shortly be available with an extended field of vision, to initiate the emergency braking function if cyclists cross in front of the vehicle. In a further camera generation, even more powerful image processing processors and image sensors will perform parallel processing of image information in what is known as a multi-focal architecture which can then be used in the vision sensor for (semi-) autonomous vehicle control.
The portfolio of KOSTAL driver assistance sensors is complemented with the 7th generation stand-alone rain/light sensor which is remarkable for its extremely compact dimensions, allowing it to be incorporated in the base of the mirror and due to its colour it is well harmonized with the windscreen. It also includes the driver-monitoring camera. This camera operates in the interior of the vehicle and checks the driver’s head and eyelid positions, thus detecting his or her attention level. In future, where piloted steering is installed, this will allow the driver to take his hands from the steering wheel.

Facts: Driver assistance

    • proven KOSTAL performance of previous generations
    • optimum dimensions for integration at the base of the mirror
    • scalable: includes solar, fogging, and ambient light (HUD) sensors as options
    • uniform black footprint on the windscreen
    • integrated image processing with Mobileye EyEQ3
    • scalable microcontroller
    • flexible bus connection (Flexray/CAN/LVDS/Ethernet)
    • conforms with AUTOSAR
    • ASIL B to ISO 26262
    • automatic emergency braking function meeting (AEB) EUNCAP regulations
    • object detection (day/night)
    • pedestrian detection
    • full headlight beam assistance/MXB control
    • lane detection/lane keeping assistance
    • traffic sign recognition/data fusion with map information
    • compact dimensions
    • smallest footprint on the market, using prism technology
    • robust optical path
    • integrated screen heating
    • range of prisms and air tube variants