Here's how the BMW iX3 wants to prevent parking accidents
With the launch of its new generation of cars and SUVs, BMW is not only overhauling its powertrain strategy but also introducing new active safety measures. The Munich-based automaker is equipping Neue Klasse models with a standard assistance package that can override the driver in critical situations. The technology will debut in the electric BMW iX3 before being adopted by popular models such as the BMW i3, BMW X5 and BMW 7 Series. Rather than focusing on hypothetical highway scenarios, BMW's developers targeted two costly and dangerous everyday situations: serious accidents caused by opening doors and major parking errors.
BMW is addressing accelerator-brake confusion as a common cause of expensive vehicle damage. If a driver's foot slips while maneuvering or the accelerator is pressed hard in a stressful situation, the vehicle can crash into storefronts, parking garage walls or stationary vehicles. The standard drive-off monitoring system in Neue Klasse models is designed to prevent this. If the sensors detect an obstacle less than 3.3 feet away at speeds of up to 1.2 mph while also registering a hard press of the accelerator, the system overrides the driver's input. The EV then brakes automatically and brings the vehicle to a controlled stop, whether it is moving forward or in reverse.
BMW is also addressing another serious risk in urban traffic at the vehicle door. So-called "dooring," in which occupants open a door into moving traffic without noticing an approaching cyclist, can result in life-threatening injuries. According to insurance industry data, such incidents account for as much as 8% of all cycling accidents in major cities such as Berlin. Neue Klasse models continuously monitor their surroundings using side-mounted radar sensors. If the system detects a potential collision with a cyclist, the electronic door lock temporarily prevents the door from opening from the inside until the cyclist has safely passed.
The EVs can detect and prevent these errors within fractions of a second because BMW has overhauled the vehicle electronics architecture. The company is replacing the conventional wiring harness and dozens of distributed control units with a single central high-performance computer that handles all safety, driving and parking functions. This so-called "Superbrain of Automated Driving" is water-cooled for the first time and provides 20 times the computing power of all the hardware used in the previous generation combined.
This computing power allows the vehicle to process data from cameras, ultrasonic sensors and radar systems almost in real time, initiating emergency maneuvers faster than the driver can react. The system can also automatically steer around broken-down vehicles without leaving its lane, while the emergency braking assistant can reliably detect wild animals. The new BMW iX3 has already received the highest rating of 5 stars with this system in the latest safety test conducted by the independent organization Euro NCAP.
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