A moment of distraction or sleepiness: two situations that represent a potential risk of the driver leaving the road. The Lancia Delta reduces this risk by offering the “Driving Advisor” system (developed with CRF), a major preventive safety feature that notifies drivers when they inadvertently stray too close to the edge of the lane. The system is active when the car is travelling at a speed of between 65 and 180 Km/h and sends torque to the steering wheel (4 Nm on a continuous strip, 2 Nm on a discontinuous line) to attract the attention of drivers who cross the demarcation line.
In detail, the main element of the “Driving Advisor” is a viewing system consisting of a TV camera with image-processing software that sends data on the geometry of the road in front of the vehicle as it is driving (up to 20 metres in front of the car). The viewing device recognizes the lines that limit the lane and provides a measure of the vehicle’s position in terms of displacement from the centre of the lane and in terms of orientation.
The second key element of the “Driving Advisor” is the processing control unit with proprietary control strategies that extrapolate the vehicle’s trajectory and    whether it is imminently about to leave the lane. This forecast is carried out on the basis of data from the viewing system and also from the standard dynamic sensors present on board the car.
The control unit then defines the implementation command to be applied to the steering system. A sensation of stiffness slightly opposing the car’s crossing of the lane edge is then transmitted in the form of a torque perceptible at the steering wheel.
The third element of the system is the electric steering system, with its activation motor and steering wheel torque and angle sensors required for correct operation: this device is responsible for implementing the torque request from the control strategies.
Certain features of its operation make the interaction with the driver effective and intuitive. As long as the vehicle is driving well away from the edges of the lane, the normal perception of steering wheel resistance is unchanged. Neither does the system cut in if the direction indicator has been operated because this is an indication of the intention to carry out a manoeuvre to leave the lane. If a torque is generated on the steering wheel, this provides an indication of the steering action to be carried out in order to take the vehicle back to its position within the lane.
The “Driving Advisor” therefore sets out to prevent situations due to the driver’s lack of concentration. The key aspects of the system is its natural and intuitive interaction, with information that is immediately interpretable and understandable without the need for elaborate reasoning. This benefits speed of response and reduces the cognitive load. Last but not least, the torque generated at the steering wheel does not simply prevent the car from crossing the side lines but also provides an indication of the steering action to be carried out to restore the vehicle to the centre of the lane and thus correct the drive trajectory. The driver nevertheless maintains full control of driving and is always able to oppose the torque on the steering wheel if considered advisable.