Functions that further increase the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians are being developed on this basis. Vehicle Dynamics Management (VDM) comprises functions that arise through the improved interaction of the brake control system, active steering system or chassis control - the systems, in other words, that have an effect on driving behaviour. VDM also improves the safety of the vehicle, but in particular increases its agility. The first fruits of these two approaches are already in series production and will be further developed over the next few years.

The safety of all road-users has always been an important aim of development work at Bosch. Passive safety systems such as airbags already protect vehicle occupants in several ways. Active safety systems and driver assistance systems are designed to prevent the majority of accidents that already happen as a result of driver inattentiveness, as well as to minimize the seriousness of unavoidable accidents.

The integration of active systems into Vehicle Dynamics Management (VDM)

Vehicle Dynamics Management takes the coordination of the active vehicle systems that have an effect on the vehicle's movement as its starting point. In this way, the Bosch developers are able to improve the vehicle's stability, agility and traction, particularly in critical situations. If, for instance, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) detects that the vehicle is being oversteered, active steering can apply a corrective steering modification that stabilizes the vehicle at a very early stage. This can ofen replace a braking manoeuvre that has a negative effect on comfort, or can support this braking manoeuvre in correcting the movement of the vehicle. On top of this, the driver can swerve to avoid an accident more easily. Braking actions in which the wheels on one side of the vehicle only are running on snow or ice can also be managed more easily with the aid of additional, corrective steering support. Bosch developers see the possibility of reducing braking distance by up to 10 per cent this way.

The CAPS (Combined Active and Passive Safety) modular safety system

The analysis of accidents shows that about 60 per cent of rear-end collisions, and nearly one-third of frontal impacts, would not happen if the driver were able to react just half a second earlier. In this context, Bosch is promoting the integration of active and passive safety systems with driver assistance systems - the modular CAPS safety system. It supports the driver in critical situations, and can help to avoid accidents or at least to minimize their seriousness.

At the beginning of 2005 Bosch began series production of the CAPS Predictive Brake Assist (PBA) function, as the first stage of development of predictive safety systems. When the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) system detects that another vehicle is getting critically close, and tha the driver has not reacted immediately, the PBA takes the precaution, unnoticed by the driver, of bringing the brake pads up to the discs, and prepares the braking distance. The next stage of development - Predictive Collision Warning - will be featured in the Audi Q7 at the beginning of 2006. If the driver still fails to react, and the distance to the other vehicle becomes even shorter, the driver of the new Q7 will be given an additional, active warning by a short activation of the brakes. His attention will therefore be intuitively directed immediately to the traffic situation.

Bosch engineers are already working on a large number of further functions. Within a few years, for instance, automatice emergency braking will be triggered in situations where an accident can clearly no longer be avoided. By applying full braking shortly before collision, the speed of impact, and therefore the seriousmess of the accident, will be reduced. The effectiveness of restraint systems can also be further improved through the use of additional information. If ESP recognises a condition in which the driving dynamics are critical, it can, for instance, activate reversible belt tighteners. If radar sensors or video cameras detect that an accident is unavoidable, the airbags can be triggered at an earlier stage, and therefore provide better protection. CAPS offers further potential for improvement if the vehicle turns over or is involved in a crash from the side, where the combination of airbag and ESP sensors can recognise critical situations earlier and more accurately.

Systemic competence as a result of extensive Bosch expertise

The new CAPS and VDM functions are based, to a large extent, on components and systems that are already in series production, and can be implemented step-by-step thanks to standardized interfaces. Bosch is active in all the relevant areas of work, and is therefore uniquely capable of implementing these new functions.

Bosch media enquiries: Chris Wakley/David Eden, Automotive PR, tel: 0207 494 8050, e-mail: cwakely@automotivepr.com/deden@automotivepr.com

Bosch OE enquiries: Beverley Daniels, Communications Manager, Robert Bosch Ltd, tel: 01895 878155. e-mail: beverley.daniels@uk.bosch.com