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BLIS – Blind Spot Information System – will be offered as an option on XC70
wagon, S60 sedan and V70 wagon available in Australia in 2005.
Advanced systems such as BLIS are vital to Volvo Cars' ongoing strategy of
remaining world leader in the field of safety.
Blind Spot Information System recognises cars and motorcycles
To
improve offset rear vision (blind spots), Volvo Cars began fitting wide-angle
door mirrors for the driver’s side in 1979 – the first car maker to do so.
Still focused on improving driver visibility, Volvo Cars is taking one step
further with a camera-based monitoring system that keeps a watchful eye on the
'blind' area alongside and offset rear of the car.
When another vehicle (motorcycle, car or truck) enters this zone – an area of
9.5 metres by 3.0 metres – a yellow warning light comes on beside the
appropriate door mirror in the driver's peripheral view. The driver is thus
given an indication that there is a vehicle very close alongside. This visual
information gives the driver added scope for making the right decisions in such
driving situations.
The technology of BLIS
A digital camera is installed on each door
mirror. This small camera captures 25 images per second, and by comparing each
frame taken, the system is able to recognise that a vehicle is within the BLIS
zone.
The system's software is programmed to identify cars as well as motorcycles,
in daylight as well as at night. Since BLIS is camera-based, however, it has the
same limitations as the human eye does. This means the system will not function
in conditions of poor visibility, for instance in fog or flying snow. In such a
case, the driver receives a message that BLIS is not in action.
BLIS is configured not to react to parked cars, road barriers, lampposts and
other static objects. The system is active at all speeds above 10km/h. It reacts
to vehicles that are driven a maximum of 20km/h slower and a maximum of 70km/h
faster than the car itself.
BLIS can be deactivated via a button in the centre console.
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