VW road sign reading system provides drivers with an extra pair of eyes

Volkswagen has created a traffic sign recognition system that provides drivers with information on the most important warning and prohibition signs along the route they are taking in real time.

The VW Dynamic Road Sign Display system records the relevant road signs via a camera. Signs that the system has been set to regard as important are then displayed them either in the car’s multifunction display, the display of the radio and navigation system and/or a head-up display, depending on the vehicle equipment.

The system can be programmed to recognise signs for peed limits, exit signs, ‘no overtaking’ as well as their corresponding ‘end of...’ signs.

An on-board computer compares three sources: traffic signs detected by the camera, information from the navigation device and current vehicle data. In some cases, even dirty or damaged signs can be displayed correctly. In addition, the system calculates whether traffic signs are plausible, relevant and currently valid.

The incorporation of the rain sensor means the vehicle can perceive when precipitation on the windscreen exceeds a certain amount, meaning speed limits applicable ‘when wet’ are automatically displayed.