Continental to showcase new ARAS systems for two-wheelers at EICMA

In line with its ‘Vision Zero’, technology provider and component supplier Continental is pursuing the vision of accident-free road traffic and wants to be the first supplier to launch an emergency brake assist (EBA) system for motorcycles.

The radar-based system belongs to the wide range of state-of-the-art advanced rider assistance systems that Continental will be presenting at the EICMA 20178 motorcycle show in Milan, Italy, which opens later this week. The new fifth-generation radar sensors from Continental, which feature capabilities such as enhanced object detection, make it possible to deliver a high-performance emergency brake assist system.

The company’s many years of experience with safety systems in passenger cars and commercial vehicles have been incorporated into the development process for the motorcycle system. Yet there are differences. Whereas an emergency brake assist in a passenger car automatically performs emergency braking with maximum braking force when a collision is imminent, the motorcycle system brakes in a much more measured way. It is designed more to help the rider than to take control itself. According to Continental accident research, a large number of rear-end collisions could be prevented with an emergency brake assist – even in the case of intersecting and oncoming traffic, in the not-too-distant future.

“Unlike in cars, motorcyclists are very much exposed to environmental factors such as the wind, weather and vibrations, and this makes riding a very challenging task. As a result, motorcyclists more frequently find themselves in situations in which they find it difficult to estimate the speeds of other road users. Emergency brake assist for motorcycles is therefore primarily indicative in nature. It draws the rider’s attention to critical situations and makes them more readily understandable,” says Christian Pfeiffer, ARAS project manager for the area of 2-Wheelers and Powersports at Continental. “As is the case with cars, the system reduces speed here as well. However, the goal is to initiate a process that the rider can then take control of. This shortens the response time, which in turn can reduce stopping distance considerably.”

Emergency Brake Assist shortens response time and supports the rider by carefully measured braking intervention in the event of impending rear-end collisions.

How EBA works in two-wheelers
Emergency brake assist uses a radar sensor to monitor the area in front of the motorcycle. If there is a risk of a collision with a vehicle in front or any other obstacle, the rider is alerted by a visual, audible or haptic warning, e.g. by means of vibrations in the handlebars. Low initial braking pressure then helps the rider with the active braking operation. If the rider does not react to the warning, emergency brake assist automatically builds up braking force – as long as the rider has both hands on the handlebars. The deceleration is much less pronounced than is usual in a passenger car emergency braking system.
The short- and long-range radar sensors from Continental have become even more accurate and powerful with the fifth generation, which will enter series production in 2019. They use improved object detection algorithms, which can detect even smaller objects such as an exhaust that has fallen off. In addition, the heights of objects can be calculated by means of the elevation measurement capability. This means that the sensor can detect the tail of a traffic jam under a bridge or road boundaries such as curbs even more accurately. A further advantage that is particularly important given the limited installation space available in motorcycles is that the radar system has been made even more compact.
The radar sensor is not only the central element of the emergency brake assist system; in many modern motorcycles, it is also the only additional component required in order to put this assist function into practice. Particularly in the high-end segment, all other components are already installed in the vehicle in most cases. These include, for example, the sensor cluster, which measures acceleration and yaw rate. The radar system uses the data from the sensor cluster to analyze the current situation, where other road users are and whether emergency braking is necessary as a result. The braking is then performed by the brake control unit, while engine speed is reduced at the same time via the engine control unit. Continental can supply all involved technologies for motorcycles of all sizes from a single source, including the instrument cluster, which warns the rider when a collision is imminent.

Adaptive Cruise Control adapts the motorcycle´s speed automatically and ensures always safe distance to the vehicle in front.

Intelligent adaptive cruise control
Another ARAS function that also works with the forward-facing long-range radar is the intelligent adaptive cruise control. The system automatically adapts the motorcycle’s speed – even if the motorcycle is leaning slightly – to that of the vehicle in front, thus ensuring a safe distance at all times. As a perfect complement to emergency brake assist, this intelligent adaptive cruise control ensures a relaxed ride, particularly in heavy traffic on highways. This takes some of the strain off the rider, who can spare the concentration and attention that are especially important on motorcycles so that they are available in full when it really matters: on the next winding stretch of mountain road.

Among the additional ARAS functions that Continental offers for two-wheeled vehicles are blind spot detection, traffic sign assist and intelligent headlight assist. Blind spot detection monitors the area behind the motorcycle by means of a short-range radar sensor, and warns the rider of vehicles in the blind spot in case he or she is intending to change lanes.

Blind Spot Detection points out dangerous situations when changing lanes.

Traffic Sign Assist: A camera detects speed limits using and informs the driver of the maximum permissible speed.

Traffic sign assist uses a camera to register speed limits, overtaking restrictions and entry restrictions to one-way streets and indicates them to the rider. Intelligent headlight assist detects the lights of vehicles in front as well as oncoming vehicles and switches the high-beam headlamp on whenever possible in order to ensure optimum lighting of the road. In addition, the forward collision warning warns the rider if there is a risk of collision, but unlike emergency brake assist, it does not include an emergency braking function.

Due to the modular structure of all systems, Continental can offer solutions that have been tailored specifically to different markets, trading arrangements and legal regulations. “Unlike with passenger car occupants, passive protection such as that offered by airbags is possible only to a very limited extent for motorcyclists. For this reason, accident prevention is of immense importance for two-wheeled vehicles in particular,” says Pfeiffer. “The systems that monitor the surrounding area represent the next major step toward safety on the road in this respect; with them, we are coming one step closer to our Vision Zero.”

Particularly in Asian countries such as India, where two-wheeled vehicles are an everyday means of transport and the traffic accident figures are extremely high, these systems can increase the potential for safety considerably. “Just like the motorcycle ABS system has already done, emergency brake assist will find its way onto these markets” – Pfeiffer is sure of that.