Hella supplies 2009 Opel with traffic sign detection camera

Hella is providing General Motors' European 2009 Opel Insignia with a camera system that reads traffic signs and warns of unintended lane departures.

Jan. 1, 2020

3 min read

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Hella is providing General Motors’ European 2009 Opel Insignia with a camera system that reads traffic signs and warns of unintended lane departures.

One of Hella’s driver assistance systems, the optional camera is mounted at the base of the rearview mirror and is known as “Opel Eye.” It sounds an alarm if road safety lines are crossed, helping to improve safety, reduce traffic violations and save lives, according to the manufacturer.

The new traffic-safety system was displayed by Hella for the first time in the U.S. at Convergence 2008, which took place Oct. 20-22.

“Hella’s electronics specialists worked with GM engineers in Russelsheim, Germany, to develop the Opel Eye, which has a high-resolution camera with a wide-angle lens and processor,” says Dr. Martin Fischer, president of Hella’s Corporate Center U.S.A. “Opel Eye demonstrates Hella’s electronics prowess and is a forerunner of advanced safety technologies that soon will be appearing on cars in America.”

Hella’s traffic sign detection system reads speed-limit signs, no passing signs and other traffic restriction markers and displays a symbol on the vehicle’s dashboard. The system also saves sign images for short periods of time.

“For example, if you’ve ever missed a speed-limit sign for a road you’re on, this system can retrieve it with a push of a button,” Fischer notes.

About the size of a cell phone, the camera takes 30 photos per second. These images are filtered and evaluated by two signal processors and special software. Signs are detected and read several times from a distance of about a football field. If a photo taken corresponds to a stored traffic sign, a warning signal lights up on the instrument panel.

Since the camera also detects construction-zone speed limits, it provides much more precise information than data stored in navigation systems. It also detects if there are special traffic conditions, such as different speed limits for different lanes.

The Opel Eye is paired with Hella’s Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system that helps drivers stay in a chosen lane on dual-lane roadways. LDW helps to combat dangerous phenomena such as microsleep or driver distraction which might cause a vehicle to unintentionally stray into oncoming traffic.

“When activated by the driver, Hella’s LDW system sounds a warning gong and flashes a light on the instrument panel,” Fischer says.

The LDW system works at speeds in excess of 30 mph. The system’s signal processor filters pictures taken by a front camera, looking for lines and longitudinal structures to recognize traffic lanes. Thanks to special algorithms and by monitoring steering wheel movements, LDW only issues a warning in hazardous situations.

For more information, visit www.hella.com.