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car cautions New Siemens technology aimed at 'zero accidents' page 2
New technology can save drivers from speed traps and save lives when drivers are falling asleep at the wheel
Date published: 10/21/2006
continued The Siemens sign-recognition technology was unveiled this week at the General Motors-hosted "Convergence 2006" automobile electronics show in Detroit, where Warner demonstrated it. It's part of a "pro.pilot" package Siemens VDO hopes Detroit car-makers will be offering consumers as an option in three to five years. Another feature is a small, infrared, digital camera that watches the driver's eyes and issues warnings if he or she becomes drowsy. It first causes the driver's seat to vibrate, then, if that doesn't do the trick, it issues an alarm tone or a voice warning. The drowsiness warning system was demonstrated at IFA, the world's largest consumer electronics show, which was held last month in Germany. The Berlin-based trade show has an office in Fredericksburg. Bridgette LaRose, a Siemens VDO spokeswoman who demonstrated the drowsiness detection device at the German show, said in a phone interview: "It can evaluate the driver's blinking pattern and the duration of eyelid movement. The system can differentiate between a driver who's alert and attentive and drowsy." Or distracted. It also alerts the driver if he or she is looking in the mirror for too long, or spending too much time worrying about kids in the back seat. A current driver warning system offered as an option by BMW costs about $1,000, but Warner said Siemens VDO isn't sure how much its more advanced package might cost as an option in 2009. Advanced electronics is the fasting-growing segment in the automotive industry. In keeping with that, the theme of this week's show in Detroit was "Convergence Reinvents the Automobile." GM demonstrated Vehicle-to-Vehicle technology this week. It combines an antenna, a computer, a GPS receiver and a transponder to allow vehicles to communicate with other vehicles on or off the road for up to a quarter of a mile. It can detect vehicles outside the driver's field of vision and sound alerts to dangerous situations. To reach MICHAEL ZITZ:
Date published: 10/21/2006
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