Eye spy with my little cameras

Australia will be the first market outside Japan to receive Subaru’s EyeSight technology when it is introduced later this year. The system uses specially mounted cameras near the rear view mirror to monitor the road ahead for potential hazards.

Subaru Australia has been testing the EyeSight technology on local roads for around 12 months and CEO Nick Senior is keen to launch the system, “EyeSight has been a major success in Japan, where more than 50 per cent of Liberty models are now sold with the system.

“We will introduce EyeSight as a standard feature in some Liberty and Outback models later this year.”

Driver aids included in the EyeSight system consist of pre-crash braking, pre-crash brake assist, progressive start control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, vehicle sway warning and progressive motion monitor. Sounds a bit of mouthful, really, so it might be worth reading the press release after the break for more detail.

Much of the technology is familiar to more expensive cars, but it’s good to see these systems finding their way into more affordable models.

Australia First For Subaru Eyesight

Subaru will launch its third-generation safety system, EyeSightâ„¢, in Australia later this year, becoming the first overseas market for the advanced technology, which has already achieved major sales success in Japan.

Subaru EyeSight Technology uses minute stereo cameras located in a single compact unit near the rear-view mirror, to recognise a variety of potential road hazards and alert the driver.

EyeSight™ is a driver assistance system combining active, passive and preventative safety technologies – together known as Subaru APPS.

The system underlines Subaru’s long-term safety commitment, which includes independent five-star ratings for occupant safety across its entire range, from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

EyeSightâ„¢ has been extensively tested locally for the last 12 months by engineers from both Subaru Australia and Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru vehicles.

The system includes seven key functions:

• Pre-crash braking – applies the brakes when a vehicle ahead is detected slowing or stopping suddenly (and the driver has failed to apply the brakes).
• Pre-crash brake assist – if the system determines that a collision is highly likely and the driver applies the brakes, the system can generate 1G maximum deceleration to help reduce impact or damage.
• Progressive Start Control – if a driver accidentally applies full throttle close to a barrier or large object situated in front of the car (such as a car park wall or vehicle immediately ahead at close range), EyeSightâ„¢ inhibits the throttle opening, helping minimise or potentially avoid impact. This will also assist in helping to reduce impacts in situations when “Drive” is accidentally selected instead of “Reverse.”
• Adaptive Cruise control – is designed to maintain a safe distance from the ‘target’ car in front irrespective of the varying speed of that vehicle.
• Lane Departure Warning – alerts the driver if the system determines that the car is drifting across clearly marked lanes.
• Vehicle Sway Warning – alerts the driver if the car starts to sway from one side of the road to another, which may occur with fatigue.
• Progressive Motion Monitor – when the EyeSightâ„¢-equipped vehicle is stopped and the vehicle in front starts to move, the driver receives an audible reminder and information display indicator notifying them that the vehicle in front has moved.

Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said: “We will introduce EyeSight™ as a standard feature in some Liberty and Outback models later this year.

“EyeSight™ has been a major success in Japan, where more than 50 per cent of Liberty models are now sold with the system.”

EyeSightâ„¢ is designed to actively assist drivers in avoiding frontal collisions, lane drifting and low speed impacts.

It can “lock on” to vehicles directly in front and, when used together with adaptive cruise control, can slow, stop and accelerate to maintain a safe distance.

EyeSightâ„¢ can also recognise pedestrians, motorcycles and cyclists within its field of vision.

Depending on conditions, EyeSightâ„¢ can use pre-crash braking helping to minimise any impact and damage. If the speed is less than 30 km/h, the car may be brought to a complete stop prior to impact.