Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 Driver Instructions Bendix™ VORAD® Collision Warning System Bendix™ SmartCruise® Adaptive Cruise Control Bendix™ BlindSpotter® Side Object Detection BW2769 (Formerly VODR0100) May 2010
FCC Compliance Statement Federal Communications Commission This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference and (2) this device must be able to accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Warnings & Cautions Warnings and Cautions ! WARNING ▲ Improper use of this system could lead to a serious accident. Read this entire Driver Instructions before operating the Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 Forward Collision Warning System (CWS), Bendix™ SmartCruise® Adaptive Cruise Control System or Bendix™ BlindSpotter Side Object Detection System. Pay particular attention to the safety messages below. This manual should be used in conjunction with proper training.
Warnings & Cautions General Information ! WARNING ▲ People’s lives depend on the proper installation of this product in conformance with these instructions. It is necessary to read, understand, and follow all instructions shipped with the product. Failure to follow all safety precautions and instructions may result in property damage, serious injury, or death.
Table of Contents FCC Compliance Statement ......................................................................................i Warnings & Cautions .............................................................................................ii-iii Overview ...................................................................................................................1 System Operation .....................................................................................................
Overview Overview The Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 collision warning system is an advanced vehicle on-board radar system that monitors traffic conditions, warning the driver of potentially hazardous driving situations.
System Components Components The Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 system is comprised of two main components, the Forward Looking Radar (FLR) and the Driver Interface Unit (DIU). The optional Bendix™ BlindSpotter® Side Object Detection System includes a Side Sensor (SS) and Side Sensor Display (SSD). The FLR is located on the forward most position of the vehicle, centered on or near the front bumper or grill of the vehicle. The DIU is mounted in the dash of the vehicle within plain view and reach of the driver.
System Operation System Operation The Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 collision warning system is powered by the vehicle’s ignition circuit and becomes active whenever the ignition key is switched to the ‘ON’ position. Bendix™ SmartCruise® adaptive cruise control is automatically engaged whenever the vehicle’s cruise control is activated. See Bendix™ SmartCruise® adaptive cruise control section for more information.
System Operation System Start Up When the system is first powered on, the DIU will display which features are currently installed. Note: Check with your OEM dealer if you are not sure which features are installed on your system. Radar Warm-up During power-up, if the outside air temperature is below 32 degrees (0 degrees Celsius) the system start up may be delayed for up to one minute until the forward radar unit reaches operating temperature.
Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 Collision Warning System Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 Collision Warning System The Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 collision warning system is designed to help the driver recognize when the following distance is becoming unsafe or to warn the driver when closing in on slower moving traffic. Visual Following Alerts The illustration below shows the different LED indicators for each level of alert.
Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 Collision Warning System Object Detected If a vehicle is detected in the same lane within 350 feet from the radar, but greater than a three second following distance, the DIU will display “Object Detected” in the LCD screen. The driver will not be alerted with any warning lamps or tones.
Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 Collision Warning System 2 Second Alert If the headway following distance decreases to within two seconds, the driver will be alerted with a second yellow LED indicator and the text “2 Seconds” displayed in the LCD screen. The DIU will also alert with an audible tone if the following distance is closing in, warning the driver that the following distance is becoming unsafe.
Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 Collision Warning System 1 Second Alert If the headway following distance decreases to one second, the driver will be alerted with three yellow LED indicators along with the text “1 Sec” displayed in the LCD screen. The DIU will also report an audible tone if the following distance is closing in.
Bendix™ SmartCruise® Adaptive Cruise Control Bendix™ SmartCruise® Adaptive Cruise Control When approaching slower moving traffic with the vehicle’s cruise control active, Bendix™ SmartCruise® adaptive cruise control adapts your vehicle’s cruise speed to that of the closest vehicle ahead, allowing the vehicle to maintain a set following distance while remaining in cruise control.
Bendix™ SmartCruise® Adaptive Cruise Control Driver Control Like normal cruise control, the driver is always in control of the vehicle when Bendix™ SmartCruise® adaptive cruise control is active. Depressing the throttle will override the SmartCruise and will cause the vehicle to accelerate. Releasing the throttle will allow Bendix™ SmartCruise® adaptive cruise control to regain control. Depressing the brake and / or clutch pedal (if equipped), will deactivate SmartCruise.
Bendix™ SmartCruise® Adaptive Cruise Control Bendix™ SmartCruise® Adaptive Cruise Control and Automatic Transmissions Automated shifting transmissions are fully compatible with the Bendix™ SmartCruise adaptive cruise control system. SmartCruise allows the automated transmission to change gears while keeping the adaptive cruise control active when the vehicle decelerates and/or accelerates.
Vehicle Tracking Vehicle Tracking Multilane Highways and Curves The forward looking radar (FLR) will track vehicles that are in front of you and in the left and right adjacent lanes ahead of you. The FLR’s lane discrimination feature allows the radar to identify which vehicle is in your lane and only track that vehicle. Lane discrimination also allows the radar to detect if an adjacent vehicle cuts into the lane in front of you and to track vehicles when entering curves.
Vehicle Tracking Entering Sharp Curves The forward looking radar’s built-in yaw sensor calculates turn radius in order to track the vehicles in your lane when entering curves, but because of the limitations of the radar’s beam width, the radar may not be able to effectively detect objects in sharp curves. ! WARNING ▲ Do not rely on the system to effectively detect objects when entering sharp curves. Do not engage cruise control while on an on-ramp or off-ramp.
Menu Options User Option Settings To access the user options menu, press the ‘OK’ button on the front of the driver interface unit (DIU). Use the up/down buttons to navigate the menu options. Use the OK button to select a menu option. Note: The vehicle should be stopped before accessing the DIU menu options. Some menu options may not be available if the vehicle is moving. Menu Options The following menu selections will appear in a scrollable window in the DIU screen.
Menu Options Driver Demo The Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400’s demo mode allows the driver to become familiar with all the different alerts and screens of the Driver Interface Unit before using the system. Note: If the vehicle is moving, demo mode will not be available. Volume The volume setting allows the driver to adjust the level of the audible warning tones. Optional configurations for the volume setting are a set minimum level and a default maximum volume setting at power up.
Menu Options Range - (Optional) The default following distance for Bendix™ SmartCruise® adaptive cruise control is 3.25 seconds. Some systems may allow the driver to adjust the following distance down to as close as 2.25 seconds by adjusting the range setting. • • Maximum Range = 3.25 seconds Mininimum Range = 2.25 seconds Brightness The brightness setting allows the driver to adjust the intensity of the DIU backlight and LED warning indicators.
Menu Options MPH / KPH The driver interface unit can be set to display in miles per hour (MPH) or kilometers per hour (KPH). System Status This is the default system screen displayed during normal operation. The system status screen shows the configured features of the system and their current operational status (i.e. available or unavailable). A failed status may imply that some system or fault condition is preventing the feature from properly functioning.
Menu Options Diagnostics Display Screen The diagnostics screen will display any active Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 system faults that may be present. Use the up/down buttons to select the driver display unit or the Forward Looking Radar (AC20) then select OK. Refer to the Troubleshooting section for more information about system diagnostics.
Bendix™ BlindSpotter ® Side Object Detection Bendix™ BlindSpotter® Side Object Detection The Bendix™ BlindSpotter® side object detection system is an option to the Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 collision warning system that can be installed on one or both sides of the vehicle. The system is comprised of a side radar sensor located on the side of the vehicle and a driver display unit located on the windshield pillar that warns the driver when an object is detected along side the vehicle.
Bendix™ BlindSpotter ® Side Object Detection Visual Warning The side object display unit uses two LED indicators to display the status of the side radar sensor. The yellow LED indicates the system is active, but no objects are detected. The red LED indicates the system is detecting an object. Audible Warning Tone If the vehicle’s turn signal is active and the sensor detects an object along side the vehicle, the side sensor display will report an audible warning tone.
Following Distance Calculating Following Distance One of the safest habits any driver can perform while operating a motor vehicle is maintaining a minimum following distance from the other vehicles. Most commercial vehicles traveling at a highway speed of 55 MPH require a minimum of 200 feet or more to bring the vehicle to a complete stop on dry pavement. Conditions like heavy loads, slippery roads, and worn tire tread can drastically increase a vehicle’s stopping distance.
Preventive Maintenance Preventive Maintenance The following steps should be performed daily before operating any vehicle equipped with the Bendix™ VORAD® VS-400 forward collision warning system and Bendix™ BlindSpotter® side object detection system. • • Inspect the forward looking radar and side radar sensor(s) for damage. Remove any mud, snow, and debris that may interfere with the sensor operation.
Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Bendix™ VORAD® Failed Message Whenever a fault condition is detected by the forward radar or the driver interface unit, the Bendix™ VORAD® system will become disabled and the driver interface unit will illuminate the orange fault indicator lamp along with a description of the system status displayed in the LCD screen. Note: When the system is in a failed state, the system will not alert and the Bendix™ SmartCruise® adaptive cruise control will not function (if enabled).
Troubleshooting Forward Looking Radar Blocked Whenever the system determines the forward looking radar has become blocked, obstructed, or becomes blind due to heavy rain or snow, the Bendix™ VORAD® system will disable itself and the driver interface unit will display the “Radar Blocked” message on the LCD screen. To clear this message you must stop the vehicle and power off the system. The radar must be clear of any debris, snow, or obstructions before the system will resume normal operation.
BW2769 ©2010 Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group All Rights Reserved • 05/10
