Imagine a car that can navigate the roads with a gaze. In the new BMW 5-series sedan, drivers will be able to let their hands rest while they switch lanes on the highway with their eyes. In this innovation, the car follows the direction of the gaze.
BMW stands out from its other automotive competitors by enabling drivers to change lanes by looking at one of the outside mirrors. With the new BMW system, if the car’s automated driving system recommends a lane change, the driver simply has to look at the corresponding side mirror and the car will follow that direction to shift lanes. The system works with a camera built-in behind the steering to track the direction of the driver’s gaze.
The camera is also used to monitor the driver to ensure they are paying attention to the road. If the driver appears distracted, warnings will appear inside the car, and after some time, the system stops working.
If the driver wants to switch a lane without a prompt from the car, they are able to request the change by clicking on the turn signal stalk to show which side.
Safety is carefully monitored to ensure no crash as there are sensors that judge whether there is enough space to move to the other lane. The car makes sure there are no other cars on the other side before maneuvering in that direction. The system can function at speeds up to 85 miles per hour.
The new BMW 5-series will be available in October with gasoline-powered versions with four- and six-cylinder engines and as a fully electric model. The i5 eDrive40, which is the electric version, will cost $67,000 and drivers can drive approximately 295 miles on a full charge. Plug-in hybrid versions of the car will be hitting the market next year.
The new feature will be fascinating for drivers who want to sit back, relax and let the car do the work.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/24/business/bmw-eye-lane-change/index.html