Continental to Present Sensor Solution for Autonomous Trucks at CES
Continental has announced a new sensor solution designed for commercial vehicle, which it will demonstrate at CES 2023 later this week in Las Vegas. The Continental Sensor Array provides an answer to the growing number of intelligent and automated driving systems in commercial vehicles, as its multi-sensor system can be mounted above modern vehicle windshields to provide a compact, integrated solution to manage new complex environments for commercial vehicles.
Higher levels of automation, such as L4, will require a larger number of different sensors that can be installed intelligently, quickly, and safely, Continental said. WIth the Sensor Array solution, all integrated sensors – including lidar, radars and cameras – are pre-calibrated and coordinate with each other. The array supports features such as adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, blind spot assistance, and automated driving. Continental said the coordination simplifies the installation of many sensors, their integration into a vehicle architecture and the complex process of calibration. This approach also reduces maintenance and vehicle downtime, the company added.
“The Continental Sensor Array offers a tailor-made system solution approach for commercial vehicles,” said Vinh Tran, head of the autonomous mobility business area, Continental North America. “The potential for automated and autonomous driving in the commercial vehicle sector will change the industry, especially when it comes to managing a high number of downtimes. Highly complex sensor systems are required to take advantage of that potential. By offering easy assembly and calibration of multiple sensor systems in a single, compact module, our solution will help prepare companies for the future of commercial mobility.”
With the new multi-sensor system, Continental said it will provide all safety-relevant sensor technology from a single source: sensors, central computing units for control, calibration of the individual sensors among each other, and calibration of the overall solution when mounted on the vehicle.
“A multi-sensor system in a compact solution offers vehicle manufacturers and users many advantages,” added Tran. “Radar, lidar and cameras are pre-calibrated and matched to each other. This significantly reduces efforts around sensor assembly, sensor calibration, and vehicle maintenance. And if, for example, trucks drive autonomously and are on the road around the clock, our Sensor Array can be easily replaced for maintenance work. That means no more costly downtimes.”
In addition, the electronic architecture and wiring harnesses in commercial vehicles are significantly streamlined – and later updates can be implemented quickly, the company said. Sensors for new assistance systems can be easily integrated into the compact solution. The overall sensor system does not require any fundamental modifications to the driver’s cab or vehicle body for future generations of trucks, and it can also be mounted on existing generations of modern trucks, provided that the onboard electrical system is prepared for this, Continental said.
Cleaning and air conditioning of the sensor units are also simplified with Continental’s automatic “Camera and Sensor Cleaning, Cooling and Heating” system. All sensors independently monitor the degree of their pollution. Camera lenses are automatically cleaned by a water jet. In addition, intelligent thermal management ensures the flawless use of sensor technology in all weather conditions.
For more information on Continental, visit its website here.
