Delphi is now adapting its collision warning systems for commercial vehicles. The system can help warn truck drivers of impending danger in
front of the vehicle.

Delphi's commercial vehicle collision warning system evolved from its passenger car system that began with placing a radar sensor on the front of the vehicle for Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC). The ACC radar sensor is part of a system that automatically slows the equipped vehicle down when it detects a slower moving vehicle ahead. Delphi first introduced this system in 1999 on Jaguar. Subsequent generations of ACC allowed the driver to automatically maintain a selected time gap behind the vehicle ahead and provide a headway alert system that can be used without the cruise function.

The headway alert system provides the driver with audible and visual alerts with feedback regarding safe following distances. The driver can adjust the system's sensitivity to adapt the alert level to his/her preferred driving style. The system can also
warn the driver if mud, snow or other material is blocking the sensor.

A camera can also be added to Delphi's collision warning system to enhance its capability. Fusing the sensing capabilities of the camera with radar enhances the effectiveness of the entire collision warning system. While the radar measures relative speed, the camera identifies and classifies the objects in the vehicle's forward view.

Delphi's system is also capable of automatically activating the brakes when the camera and signal processing detect a vehicle ahead. Sensor data from the radar and camera are combined in the signal processing unit. This allows the driver to be warned as soon as the evaluation algorithms identify a dangerous situation. Delphi can provide either audio or visual warnings based on the commercial vehicle maker's specifications.

Delphi has gained more experience in passenger car collision warning systems from its application on the Volvo S80. The Volvo ACC system uses a mono camera with long-range 77 GHz radar that looks out more than 150m to detect slower or stopped vehicles as well as objects in the forward path of the vehicle. This system allows drivers to maintain a driver-selected headway or time gap by adjusting the speed of the vehicle through control of the throttle and braking. The camera data is also used by Lane Departure Warning and the Driver Impairment Detection Systems.

Commercial-vehicle collision warning systems are based on the same technical portfolio as the passenger-car systems. The first ACC-equipped trucks are
already in production. Active safety systems are expected on commercial trucks soon.