Bosch collision warning system put to the test at Le Mans
20 June 2013
As the 24 hour Le Mans endurance race marks its 90th anniversary, a US entrant will be trialling Bosch's new radar based collision warning system.
In a first for the 24 hour Le Mans race, the Corvette Racing team will be employing a new collision warning system developed by US motor racing equipment supplier Pratt & Miller in collaboration with Bosch Motorsport.
One major hazard, particularly in endurance racing, is posed by the speed differential between vehicle classes whenever high-speed LMP (Le Mans Prototype) cars come to lap GTE (Grand Touring Endurance) cars based on series production models.
The new system is based on a third-generation Bosch long-range radar sensor (LRR3) fitted to the rear of the vehicle. With an aperture angle of up to 30 degrees, the sensor can detect objects at a distance of 250 meters.
It can also track up to 32 objects simultaneously, along with their distance and speed relative to the car. The system combines this information with video footage to show drivers on a cockpit display the vehicles that are behind them, how fast they are approaching, and on which side they are overtaking.
“This means drivers always know what's going on behind them – which is a huge advantage, especially in rainy conditions or night driving,” says Klaus Böttcher, vice president of Bosch Motorsport.