Delphi RACam wins automotive innovation award

RACam stands for integrating Radar and Camera systems with the vehicle’s onboard sensors to take predictive measures in case the vehicle detects an obstacle in the vehicle’s course. Delphi’s new sensor fusion safety device combines radar sensing, vision sensing, and enough computing power to embarrass a small IT firm, all crammed into a compact module. A fleet of advanced driver assistance systems are hooked to this compact module including full speed adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection and autonomous braking to automatically bring the vehicle to a halt in case the driver does not react to the obstacles ahead. 

For the functions it performs on the grounds of vehicle safety the Delphi RACam unit a jury of 80 journalists have chosen it as the winner for the 2011 International Awards for Automotive Innovation at the Equip Auto show in Paris.

The Delphi RACam system is significantly less expensive and complicated it is also lighter and smaller than non integrated systems. The result is a compact module so small that it can be placed behind the rear view mirror of a car to save it from damage in case of a collision. This in turn reduces costs of repair.

Diedrich von Behr, managing director of Delphi Europe’s Electronic Controls product business unit, said, Delphi is committed to providing innovative technologies that will help make advanced driver assistance systems affordable for a wider range of vehicle segments. With RACam, vehicle manufacturers can eliminate the expense of multiple safety sensors and still offer the benefits of consumer-desired driver assistance systems.”