BMW MOTORCYCLE EQUIPMENT. - BMW Motorrad Polska

MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE ROADS ARE GET-
TING BUSIER, AND WITH THAT MOTOR-
CYCLISTS ARE EXPOSED TO GREATER
RISK. FORTUNATELY, BMW MOTORRAD
HAS BEEN A LEADER IN MOTORCYCLING
SAFETY FOR DECADES, WITH A LONG
LIST OF DEVELOPMENTS DEDICATED TO
IMPROVING RIDER SAFETY.
BMW Motorrad’s previous achievements in the field
of rider safety are almost too numerous to mention.
They include the world’s first ever motorcycle ABS,
tyre pressure control, auto stability control, electronically
adjustable suspension, adaptive headlight
technology, Race ABS, and traction control with a
choice of riding modes that offer different throttle
response and torque characteristics. In the area of
rider equipment, the NP Protectors developed by
BMW Motorrad for motorcycle suits contribute to
passive safety, as does the Neck Brace System
introduced in 2007 and decades of helmet
development.
There are of course many technical solutions
being developed that will find their way onto serial
production machines in the years to come. Here is a
summary of the latest innovations that will give future
generations of motorcyclists a chance to enjoy and
share our love of two wheels.
ECALL WITH ACN
In the aftermath of a serious road accident, every
second is vital. Already available on BMW cars, a
BMW Motorrad Emergency Call/Automatic Collision
Notification system is currently being worked on.
If the rider arrives at an accident on a bike fitted
with eCall, he can use the eCall button to trigger a
manual emergency call, which transmits the accident
details and exact location to a BMW Call Centre
to relay to the nearest rescue coordination centre.
If the rider of a BMW motorcycle fitted with eCall is
involved in an accident himself, this is registered by
means of the ACN sensor system and an automatic
emergency call is triggered with the BMW Call
Centre, enabling transmission of the required data,
such as the location and detailed information on the
nature of the accident.
RIDER INFORMATION AND
ASSISTANCE SYSTEM
Work is currently underway on an adaptation of a
camera-based rider information and assistance
system that can actively contribute to preventing
dangerous situations from arising in the first place.
The system provides feedback on speed limits by
means of road sign detection and graphic display on
the instrument panel. The camera is also capable of
automatic detection of obstacles on the road, and a
warning is given if there is a risk of collision. The system
actively detects danger and is capable of generating
a visual signal which draws the motorcyclist’s
attention to the object detected, as well as preparing
the brake system for imminent intervention.
BMW MOTORRAD CONNECTEDRIDE
Assistance systems based on vehicle-to-vehicle
communication make motorcycling even safer and
many of the projects in development featured below
will be installed in serial production BMW motorcycles
of the future.
THE CROSS-TRAFFIC ASSISTANT analyzes
road users approaching a junction, the priority
situation and the probability of a collision. A cockpit
display indicates traffic regulations to waiting
drivers, who, in the case of a potential failure to give
way, would be warned of the risk of collision in three
stages. To protect the rider, the motorcycle headlight
intensity is increased and additional LED strobes
at the side of the machine are activated to increase
visibility in case of an increasing risk of collision.
If a collision is imminent, the motorcycle horn is
sounded automatically.
THE TRAFFIC LIGHT PHASE ASSISTANT
allows the traffic light system to communicate with
the motorcycle so that if the lights are due to be on
red when the rider arrives at an intersection at an
unchanged speed, he would receive this information
early enough via the instrument panel to be able to
brake gently. The assistant is also able to display the
speed at which he could reach the traffic lights during
the green cycle.
A VIEW TO
THE FUTURE.
THE BAD WEATHER WARNING gives motorcyclists
early warning of fog, rain, snow or black ice,
shown by a visual indication in the instrument
panel – optionally also a voice message in the
BMW Motorrad Communication System. The
assistant also gives details of approximately
when the rider can be expected to encounter
these conditions.
THE OBSTACLE WARNING advises riders of
obstacles ahead, such as oil or chippings on the
surface, or a broken-down vehicle at the roadside.
This is indicated by a signal on the instrument panel
– also with optional voice message – with details
of approximately how far away the obstacle is. The
warning and location of the danger could also be
transmitted from vehicle to vehicle.
THE EMERGENCY VEHICLE WARNING
SYSTEM provides a visual display in the instrument
panel of an approaching emergency vehicle. A clear
symbol and a voice message warn the rider, also
providing details of how far away the vehicle is.
THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM
helps prevent rear-end collisions in heavy traffi c by
informing vehicles as early as possible that a series
of brake manoeuvres have been carried out ahead.
By receiving this information via the instrument
panel and communication system, riders and
drivers are able to react sooner and avoid rear-end
collisions that can be caused by a chain reaction of
late braking.
THE OVERTAKING ASSISTANT uses a system
of sensors (already in serial production in conjunction
with Race ABS and DTC) to make an overtaking
motorcycle more visible to other road users. If the
vehicle ahead moves out to overtake at the same
time as the motorcycle (because the driver has
not seen the motorcyclist or wrongly estimated his
speed), then the motorcyclist is in danger. Additional
LEDs in the turn indicator then intensify the signalling
effect, making the motorcycle more visible to
the car driver and making it more likely the driver will
notice the motorcycle before it disappears into the
blind spot.
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