Lane Keeping Assist

We have just replaced our 15 year old VW Touran diesel with a T-Cross 1.0 TSi. This is, as all new cars, fitted with lane keeping assist. I was wondering what would happen if it got confused? Could I, or my wife, fight it and win. Looking at the Bosch variant it either uses the electric power steering, if fitted, or brakes individual wheels using the ESP.

https://www.bosch-mobility.com/en/solutions/assistance-systems/lane-keeping-assist/

“Lane keeping assist uses a video camera to detect the lane markings ahead of the vehicle and to monitor the vehicle's position in its lane. If the vehicle’s distance to the lane markings falls below a defined minimum, the system steps in. In vehicles with electric power steering, it gently, but noticeably countersteers in order to keep the vehicle in the lane. In vehicles without electric power steering, it achieves the same effect by utilizing the electronic stability program (ESP®) to brake individual wheels.

Drivers can override the function at all times, so they retain control of the vehicle. If they activate the turn signal in order to intentionally change lanes or turn, the system does not intervene.”

I am fairly happy with these various assist systems so long as the appropriate risk assessment and performance level calculations have been carried out, so not designed like the Boing anti stall system.

 

Some while ago I started a thread on EVs apparently becoming immobilised due to battery or other failures.

https://engx.theiet.org/f/discussions/28694/evs-immobilised-by-flat-batteries-or-breakdowns

The new car has a DSG transmission and the selector lever is locked in Park when the ignition is switched off. It requires 12V to be available to release it, so flat battery and the car is immobilized. Reading deeply in the handbook it can be released with a screwdriver (supplied with the car but buried under the spare wheel) by opening a flap in front of the (conventional) hand brake lever. Who, other than an Aspergers spectrum engineer, would actually look that up?

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  • Interesting feeling going from a car with lane assist to a car without it.  My own car does not have lane assist and I always seems to stay in my lane but on a few recent works visits across Scotland in several different hire cars were involved.which some had lane assist.

    The steering wheel vibrates on some modles and then tries to get the car back in lane and on others you can just feel the wheel wanting to move slightly.  On long drives on A roads and motorways it really does help espcially if you are unfamiliar with the car and helps to counter act cross winds.

    A few point worth of note.

    Some single tracks in the Isle of Islay and on the Isle of Sky cuased a lot of vibration and movement.  I assume this is to do with the lack of road marking in some areas and I turned it off for some journeys.  Motorway contra flows seems also to upset the system while your lane changes even more so when there are lots of cats eyes that don't line up but settles down when the lane straightens.

    Long term I think lane assist is a good thing in a car, I think it should also be used in conjuction with Blind Spot Assist.  I strongly suggest that Lane assist must be able to be turned off for certain road conditions in the same manner as traction control. 

  • That is interesting legal idea . I can imagine there being very many real life situations confusing a self driving car.
    This one is a roundabout near me - which lanes are going and which stopping ? Ignoring for now the lanes that spiral out...
    Routinely confuses human drivers as well so perhaps its OK for the machine to get it wrong - personally I think the lights need shades or hoods of some sort but there aren't. Just in case you ever drive it, the red light on the right is for traffic joining from the left , not straight on  - that's the green light on the left...


    .

    The lights at the next roundabout along are better though the white paint is a bit wild.

    Mike.

  • Ooh heck. Seconded for hoods, or a set of lights per lane.

    I've had some similar exciting moments from speed limiters (which normally-helpfully overrides the cruise control) causing brakes to slam on for non-existent 20/30mph zones when cruising a dual carriageway. Quite recoverable but something of a surprise to the drivers behind no doubt (to say nothing of any passengers).

    Both map-based and "visual"sign recognition modes are quite capable of being flummoxed, but the visual one is notorious for spotting signs for relating to local lanes running alongside the main road, or for slip roads off it.

    Don't get me wrong, the systems are quite clever and have a lot of utility particularly when tired on long journeys. But that's when they catch you out!

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  • Ooh heck. Seconded for hoods, or a set of lights per lane.

    I've had some similar exciting moments from speed limiters (which normally-helpfully overrides the cruise control) causing brakes to slam on for non-existent 20/30mph zones when cruising a dual carriageway. Quite recoverable but something of a surprise to the drivers behind no doubt (to say nothing of any passengers).

    Both map-based and "visual"sign recognition modes are quite capable of being flummoxed, but the visual one is notorious for spotting signs for relating to local lanes running alongside the main road, or for slip roads off it.

    Don't get me wrong, the systems are quite clever and have a lot of utility particularly when tired on long journeys. But that's when they catch you out!

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