March 5, 2007 10:22 AM PST

Good vibrations for new BMW drivers

by Kevin Massy
  • Font size
  • Print
  • 5 comments

The 2008 BMW 5-series

Drivers of the new BMW 5 series will have the option of an extra tech safety device to ensure that they make it to the boardroom meeting in one piece. The 2008 5 series, which will make its official debut at this week's Geneva auto show, will come with the intelligent Lane Departure Warning system (LDW), which will warn drivers if they are about to cross over a lane-dividing line without using their turn signal.

Rather than sounding a chime or flashing a light on the dashboard (a la the system in the 2007 Infiniti M35 Sport), the BMW system will actually reproduce the physical sensation of driving over a rumble strip by generating tactile (or "haptic") feedback in the steering wheel--in a similar way to that in video-game steering wheels.

The LDW system, which is a collaboration between BMW, Siemens VDO, and Mobileye, makes use of range-finding CMOS cameras mated to electronic control units with advanced algorithm technology, in order to detect when the vehicle is about to drift across a lane marking. Unlike the Infiniti system, the BMW Lane Departure Warning system is designed to preempt--rather than record--lane transgression, in order to alert drivers before it's too late.

Recent posts from Crave
Robots in 2009: The wackier, the better
Time Warner Cable shows subscribers how to cut cord
Times Square New Year's Eve Ball, a timeline
Want to see Google's new phone on YouTube?
Photographers bless improved Canon autofocus
Gadgettes Podcast 168: The Web obviously-not-exclusive-at-all-anymore Episode
Report: Apple event to be held January 26
Job ad suggests Xbox Live headed for WinMo phones
Add a Comment (Log in or register) (5 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
already done
by kyler March 5, 2007 3:00 PM PST
the citroen C6 has had this option for almost 2 years now.
Reply to this comment
How about signaling?
by str8jackit March 6, 2007 7:28 AM PST
Does this thing turn on the turn signal as well? I would be nice to warn other drivers.
Reply to this comment
Did you read the article??
by BSDeez16 March 6, 2007 12:05 PM PST
It says right in the article, "...which will warn drivers if they are about to cross over a lane-dividing line without using their turn signal."
How would it know?
by bob x March 7, 2007 10:28 AM PST
You're supposed to signal long before you start turning.
how about turning the signal light for me? oh wait
by strykernyc March 7, 2007 7:24 AM PST
this has been done already.

take a look at the honda accord from euro. now that is steering and so much better price.
Reply to this comment
(5 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
advertisement

About Crave

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. If you would like to contact Crave with a tip or comment, please write to: crave@cnet.com

Add this feed to your online news reader

Crave topics

15 sites that went kaput in 2009

Web sites launch all the time, but they also shut their doors. We highlight 15 that bit the dust this year.

Top 10 news stories of the decade

Let the debate begin: Was the iPhone more important than iTunes? Was anything bigger than Google finding a great business model? CNET offers its list of the 10 most important stories of the '00s.