Skoda. Modern parking systems
The development of vision systems has allowed car manufacturers to offer equipment that significantly supports the driver during difficult maneuvers. Skoda recently unveiled how two such new systems work - Area View Camera and Trailer Assist.
Parking is a problem for many drivers. This maneuver became much easier with the invention of radar sensors, which were first installed at the rear of the car and then at the front. These sensors are now a popular vehicle equipment item and one of the first brands to introduce them as standard equipment is Skoda. This was in 2004 on the Fabia and Octavia models.
However, the designers have gone further and for several years now cameras have become increasingly popular parking assistants, which, together with sensors, form a team that supports the driver during complex maneuvers. The most advanced idea is a camera system that provides a 360-degree view of the vehicle's surroundings. Like, for example, the Area View Camera system used by Skoda.
The user of a car equipped with this system can see everything that happens in the immediate vicinity of the car on the display on the dashboard. The system uses wide-angle cameras located on all sides of the body: on the trunk lid, grille and mirror housings. The display can display images from individual cameras, one overall image, or a XNUMXD bird's-eye view. The operation of the system is very simple, just press a button that activates a bird's-eye view of the car. Then, when you switch the view mode to the front, rear or side cameras, the image from the selected side of the vehicle appears and can be viewed in a number of different modes depending on the driving situation.
The manufacturer emphasizes that this system is especially useful when parking. It's true, basically, performing this maneuver with the Area View camera is child's play. However, in our opinion, this system is most useful when maneuvering in tight buildings or in areas with, for example, trees. The driver can then determine the location of the car and its distance in relation to other objects. The 3D mode is then most useful. When driving in unfamiliar terrain, it helps to avoid obstacles and, if necessary, signals potential dangers, such as passers-by, who may appear near the car.
During the presentation of this system, the journalists had at their disposal a Skoda Kodiaq with closed windows. The front and rear parking maneuver between the spaced uprights had to be done using the Area View Camera system only. And this is feasible, provided that you drive smoothly and have a minimum of imagination. In this case, not only the view of the car's surroundings, which the cameras broadcast on the central display, is useful, but also the predicted path, which is calculated by the system and also shown on the display. The Area View Camera system is available as an option for the Skoda Octavia and Octavia Estate, as well as the Kodiaq SUV.
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An even more interesting system, which is also linked to the area view camera, is Trailer Assist, a function that supports maneuvering the vehicle with a trailer when reversing slowly. The system is available as an option for Octavia and Kodiaq models, which will also be available with a tow bar. The Trailer Assist function is activated when the park button is pressed and reverse gear is engaged. The driver must then set the correct reversing angle using the side mirror adjuster. The image from the rear camera is displayed on the infotainment system display. Now you need to carefully add gas, and the system will select the optimal steering angle for the correct and safe maneuvering of the car with the trailer. The driver can adjust the track on the fly, but only with the help of the mirror adjuster. The moment he tries to steer the car with the steering wheel, the system is disabled and the maneuver has to be started over.
We checked. The system works and the vehicle/trailer turns according to the steering angle set by the side mirror adjuster. However, before starting the maneuver, it is worth getting out of the car, checking the intended trajectory of movement and the angle of rotation, because the key to success is to use the mirror adjuster at the right time so that the car + trailer set begins to turn and reaches the right place. If the angle between vehicle and trailer is too great, the system will warn the driver and stop the unit in critical situations. The maximum total weight of the towed trailer cannot exceed 2,5 tons. Trailer Assist works with trailers up to 12 meters long from the drawbar to the middle of the axle on the drawbar type "V" or "I".
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Trailer Assist will definitely come in handy on a camping or wooded area where you want to set up a caravan or cargo caravan. It also fulfills its role in mall parking lots, backyards or streets. However, using this system requires some practice. Therefore, if a buyer of a Skoda with Trailer Assist wants to use it, before setting off with a trailer, he should practice a little in a place where it will not interfere with the movement of other cars, or any obstacles. .
