Continental develops camera-based collision-prevention system for Mercedes

ALZENAU, Germany -- Continental will begin production of an automatic-braking and pedestrian-detection system for Mercedes-Benz early next year.

The system will be the first unit offered by a major automaker in Europe to use a stereo camera to detect and prevent impacts with pedestrians and other obstacles on the road.

The camera will be integrated with a radar system that will offer collision detection of up to 200 meters.

The camera has a shorter object detection range of 35 meters compared with the radar, but its better object recognition allows it to identify and evaluate possible risks with more certainty, avoiding unnecessary intervention of the system for objects such as small animals. The two elements will work in tandem, with the radar identifying hazards and the camera evaluating them.

The system will has a feature called Emergency Steer Assist (ESA) that automatically steers the car around pedestrians when it calculates there is insufficient distance to bring the car to a standstill without hitting them.

The system also has Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) that brakes automatically at speeds of up to 70 km/h (44 mph) when there is an obstacle in the car's path.

A source at Continental told Automotive News Europe that Mercedes would offer the unit as an optional feature on high-end models. Mercedes will debut a new generation of its S-class flagship sedan next year.

Continental anti-collision systems include Emergency Steer Assist (ESA), pictured in testing, which automatically steers the vehicle around pedestrians when there is insufficient distance left to avoid hitting them.

Photo credit: CONTINENTAL

Continental offers a range of active safety systems that use camera, radar and laser technology to help drivers avoid hitting pedestrians and other vehicles. In 2008, Volvo Cars was the first automaker to introduce an impact detection system based on Continental's short range Lidar laser system.

Collision warning and avoidance systems are expected to gain popularity among carmakers as Euro NCAP safety standards begin to rate vehicles on their success in avoiding car crashes from 2014 and their ability to prevent injury to pedestrians starting in 2016.

Friedrich Angerbauer, head of Continental's Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) unit, declined to comment on which automaker would be offering the system first.