Kia Niro: Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) / Description and operation

Detects and analyzes the current driving lane

Detects the light from foregoing vehicle and oncoming vehicle

Detects and analyzes the status of foregoing vehicle and oncoming vehicle, and sets off warning sound (or message) for driver if necessary.

Transmits the information via high speed CAN communication

Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) unit

The lane departure warning system is a convenient feature that detects the lanes ahead by using the camera image and vehicle signal data to alarm the driver in case the vehicle deviates from the lane. It consists of the camera unit used to detect the lane by analyzing the camera image input signal.

The sensor module that processes screen image by sensing the lanes ahead on the camera unit, senses the lanes and analyzes the key parameters, i.e. vehicle center offset, road width, vehicle driving angle and road curvature, to keep to the lane. The following procedure is the lane detecting process through screen image processing.

LDWS Operation process

When the LDWS switch is pressed, the operation state of the lane departure warning system is displayed at the center of the cluster as long as the LDWS lamp is turned on.

The specific classification of the displays is shown in the following table.

High Beam Assist

If the Light SW is not set to AUTO, or to High Beam position, the High Beam Auto Control System is turned OFF.

Visual alarm : The lane toward the direction of departure blinks in "amber".

The LDWS switch is turned "ON". The LDWS lamp on the instrument panel is turned on when the switch is on.

LDWS function is set and the vehicle speed exceeds 60 km/h (37 mph).

The alarm stops momentarily when the vehicle speed falls below 60 - 55 km/h (37 - 34 mph) and restarts if the vehicle speed is over 60 km/h (37 mph).

If the driver operates the left or right turn signal lamps to show the intention of lane change, the alarm will be deactivated regardless of the direction of lane departure.

The lane departure alarm function restarts 2 seconds after switching off the left or right turn signal lamps. The alarm is deactivated while operating the hazard lamps.

Switch on the turn signal lamp before changing the lanes. Arbitrary change of lanes without operating the turn signal to the driving direction will generate alarm.

When more than 40% of the vehicle body has crossed the lane, the alarm is released by sensing departure for lane change.

The lane departure alarming is not made when the vehicle drives at the center of the lane.

Note that LDWS may not operate properly in the following conditions. • When the lane is not well visible due to rain, snow, dust, puddle or other foreign materials • When the sight is unclear due to bad weather such as fog/heavy rain/heavy snow • When solar beam, street lamp or light from approaching car is reflected on the wet surface of the road • When the brightness has changed abruptly after exiting from the tunnel • When the back light is illuminated strongly against the vehicle direction • When the headlamps are not used or the light beam is too weak at night or inside the tunnel • When the lane is not distinctive and the road is damaged • When the shadow of median strip covers the lane • When the lane and road are not distinguished due to dust on the lane • When there are more than 2 lanes to the left or right such as bus only lanes • On winding road or steep road • When there are signs other than the lane on the road surface near the lane or signs similar to the lane (e.g. Arrow) • When there is a boundary structure such as the sidewalk block • When the windshield or LDWS camera lens is contaminated by moisture or foreign material • When the distance to the foregoing car is extremely short or the foregoing car is driving on the lane • When the vehicle is severely shaking • When the vehicle is passing diverging or converging lanes or complicated crossing of lanes (e.g. Interchange and tollgate) • When an object is placed on the dashboard • Arrow on the road surface • When the lane is too narrow or too wide • When the color of the lane is hard to be distinguished from the road • When the temperature around the inside rearview mirror is very high due to direct sunlight • When the LDWS cannot sense the color of the lane due to surrounded lighting (e.g. Inside the tunnel, the section of sodium lamps at night or during rain) • When the sight is not good enough to sense the other lanes

• This system does not operate when the vehicle speed is under 60km/h (37mph) or the lane marking is not sensed. • Do not use windshield tinting and do not place stickers or accessories around the inside rearview mirror. • Keep the LDWS away from water. • Do not disassemble or impact on the LDWS parts randomly. • Do not place the reflective material (white paper or mirror) on the dashboard as sunlight reflection may cause malfunction. • Driver may not be able to hear the LDWS alarm sound due to excessive noise.