Latest Lane Keeping Assist Technology From TRW Goes Into Production

LIVONIA (WWJ) -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) has today announced that its latest Lane Keeping Assist technology, incorporating closed loop control, has gone into production for the first time on two vehicle platforms for the European market.

Lane Keeping Assist integrates data from a video camera sensor with Electrically Powered Steering to apply a short counter-steer torque via the steering system to help assist the driver in preventing the vehicle from unintentionally leaving the lane.

TRW product planner Andy Whydell said the technology has great potential in improving road safety. According to 2011 federal data, 53 percent of road fatalities result from a roadway departure, and insurance industry data shows that lane departure warning and lane keeping assist systems could save more than 7,500 lives in the United States each year.

In conventional LKA systems, the technology is only active when the vehicle is close to the lane borders, at which point the counter-steer torque is applied, helping to correct the driving position. However, with this closed loop version, the steering angle is controlled more closely as the driver is 'coached' to steer the vehicle away from the border back to the center of the lane. As with all LKA systems, the induced torque generated by the EPS system can be easily over-ridden by the driver at any time.

"This technology is the first step towards a full lane centering system where the EPS system will help keep the driver in the center of the lane at all times," Whydell said. "Such technologies are starting to form the basis for semi-automated driving functionality."

Livonia-based TRW employs 65,000 people in 25 countries. More at www.trw.com.