Night Vision with Person and Animal Detection

Night Vision with person and animal detection in the BMW 5 Series G30 offers a decisive safety advantage when driving at night. An infrared camera detects heat sources in front of the vehicle and shows them on the display. Movements of people or larger animals are highlighted to give the driver time to react. The marking is applied automatically when danger is imminent, supported by targeted warning messages. Combined with the headlights, night driving becomes safer and more relaxed. The system is especially useful on country roads or in rural areas with wildlife crossings. For frequent drivers and night drivers, it is an indispensable tool of modern vehicle safety.

Principle

Night Vision with Person and Animal Detection is a night vision system.

An infrared camera captures the area in front of the vehicle and warns of people and animals on the road. Warm objects with a human-like or animal-like shape are recognized by the system. The thermal image can be shown on the Control Display if required.

Depending on equipment, the detected objects are illuminated with the Dynamic Light Spot to improve recognition.

General

Thermal Image

The heat radiation of objects in the camera's field of view is displayed.

Warm objects are shown bright and cold objects dark.

Recognizability depends on the temperature difference to the background and on the object's own heat emission. Objects with a small temperature difference to the surroundings or low heat emission are less easily recognized.

For safety reasons, the image is shown from approx.

5 km/h and low ambient brightness only when the low beams are switched on.

At certain intervals, a still image is displayed for fractions of a second.

Person and Animal Detection

Object detection and warning only works in darkness.

Objects with a human-like shape and sufficient heat emission are detected.

In addition, the system also detects animals above a certain size, e.g. deer.

Display on the Control Display when the thermal image is switched on:

• Persons detected by the system: in light yellow.
• Animals detected by the system: in dark yellow.

Object detection range under good ambient conditions:

• Person detection: up to approx. 100 m
• Detection of large animals: up to approx. 150 m
• Detection of medium-sized animals: up to approx. 70 m

Environmental influences may limit the availability of object detection.

If the vehicle systems detect that the vehicle is in a built-up area, animal detection is temporarily switched off.

Safety information

WARNING The system does not relieve you of your own responsibility to correctly assess visibility and traffic conditions.

There is a risk of accident. Adapt your driving to the traffic conditions. Observe the traffic situation and intervene actively in the relevant situations.

Overview

Buttons in the vehicle

Intelligent Safety

Thermal Image

Camera

At low outside temperatures, the camera is heated automatically.

When the vehicle lights are switched on, the camera lens is also cleaned at certain intervals when the windshield washer system is operated.

Switching on/off

Switch on automatically

The system is automatically active in darkness after every trip start.

Switching on the thermal image

In addition to the warning function, the thermal image of the Night Vision camera can be shown on the Control Display. This function has no effect on object detection.

Press the button.

The camera image is shown on the Control Display.

Adjusting the thermal image

When the thermal image is switched on, brightness and contrast can be adjusted.

Via iDrive:

1. Select brightness or contrast.

• "Brightness".
• "Contrast".

2. Set the desired value.

Warning Function

Display

The displayed symbol may vary and shows the side of the road on which the person or animal was detected.

Warning for Persons or Animals at Risk

If a collision with a detected person or animal is imminent, a warning symbol is shown in the instrument cluster and on the Head-Up Display.

Although shape and heat radiation are evaluated, false warnings cannot be ruled out.

Warning zone in front of the vehicle

The warning zone for person warnings consists of two parts:

• Central area, arrow 1, directly in front of the vehicle.
• Extended area, arrow 2, to the right and left of the central area.

For animal warnings, no distinction is made between the central and the extended zone.

The entire zone follows the vehicle's direction according to the steering angle and changes with vehicle speed.

At higher speeds, the zone becomes longer and wider, for example.

Pre-warning

An advance warning for persons is displayed when a person is detected in the central zone directly in front of the vehicle, or to the left or right in the extended zone.

An advance warning for animals is displayed when an animal is detected in front of the vehicle.

With an advance warning, brake or steer to avoid.

Acute warning

An acute warning is displayed when a person or animal is detected in the immediate vicinity in front of the vehicle.

With an acute warning, brake or steer to avoid immediately.

Display in head-up display

The warning is displayed simultaneously in the head-up display and in the instrument cluster.

Dynamic marking light

General

In addition to the warning, detected objects are illuminated by the dynamic marking light.

The object remains illuminated until it is no longer in the warning zone.

The high beam indicator lamp lights up together with the dynamic marking light.

The dynamic marking light is part of the LED headlights.

Prerequisites for operation

• Light switch in position:
• Low beam or high beam is on.
• No light sources or illuminated road users in the warning zone.

Activating/deactivating

Via iDrive:

1. 1
   "My Vehicle"
2. 2
   "Vehicle settings"
3. 3
   "Intelligent Safety"
4. 4
   "Dyn. marking light"

Switch off temporarily

While the dynamic marking light is on, press the headlight flasher. The dynamic marking light is switched off for the current warning.

System limitations

Basic limits

The function may be restricted, for example, in the following situations:

• On steep crests or dips and on tight curves.
• If the camera is dirty or damaged.
• In heavy fog, rain or snowfall.
• At very high outside temperatures.

Limits of person and animal detection

In some situations, persons may be detected as animals, or animals as persons.

Small animals are not detected by object detection, even if they are clearly visible in the image.

Detection is limited, for example, in the following situations:

• Persons or animals that are fully or partially concealed, especially with the head concealed.
• Persons not in an upright posture, e.g.

lying down.

Cyclists on non-standard bicycles, e.g. recumbent bicycles.

After mechanical impact on the system, e.g. after an accident.

The Night Vision system with person and animal detection in the BMW 5 G30/G31 makes night driving safer and more comfortable. Using an infrared camera, people and larger animals in front of the vehicle are detected and shown with warning symbols when there is a hazard. The optional dynamic marking light additionally highlights detected objects and thus improves the driver's ability to react.

Thermal imaging provides valuable support in darkness and difficult visibility conditions. Despite this modern technology, it remains important to always keep an eye on the course of the road and the traffic situation yourself.

With this system, the BMW 5 G30/G31 sets new standards for safety and driving comfort at night, a clear advantage for high-mileage drivers and night commuters.