Audi side assist Lane Change Assistant
Description
App lies to vehicles: with side assist
The side assist helps you when changing
lanes .
AUDl Q7
Fig. 147 Rear b umper: Pos it ion of radar sensors (not
v isib le on outside)
Fig . 148 Signal light on the outside mirror -driver 's
s ide
~ -..:, .. (D
Side assist uses radar sensors (not visib le on
outside) ¢
fig. 147 to help the driver check
b lind spots, and see what is happen ing in traf
fic beh ind the veh icle
¢ page 130, fig. 150.
Signal lights are bu ilt into both outside m ir
r ors ¢
fig. 148. The signal light on the left
outside mirror assists when moving over into
the left lane and the signal light on the r igh t
ou tside mirror assists when moving over in to
the right lane .
The s ignal light comes on to tell you that side
assis t has detec ted a vehicle on tha t side and
that t he position of this othe r vehicle should
be taken into account if yo u were to change
lanes . This is called the
informatio nal st age
sign al¢
page 131. The informat ional stage
Aud i side assist 129
signal is designed so that you notice it on ly
when you are looking in the outside mirror.
When yo u activate the turn signal and side as
s ist de tects a vehicle in a no table location, the
corresponding signal on the outside mi rror
flashes briefly and brightly several times. This
is the
a lert stage signal ¢ page 131 .
Activating and deactivating
Applies to vehicles: wit h side assist
Fi g. 14 9 Drive r's doo r: Side assist button
Activating
.,. Press the ¢ fig. 149 button. The indicator on
t he button lights up .
Deactivating
.,. Press the button again. The indicator light
on the button goes out .
The system works at speeds faster than
19 mph (30 km/h) .
A WARNING
-Imp roper reliance on the side assist sys
tem can cause coll is ions and serio us pe r
sonal injury:
- Never rely on ly on side assist when
changing lanes.
- Always check rear view mirrors to make
su re that it is safe to change lanes.
- Side assist canno t detect all veh icles un
de r all conditions- danger of accident!
- Side assist cannot detect vehicles in time
to a lert you w hen they app roac h from
behind at very hig h speed, or fall drop
back very qu ickly.
~
130 Audi side assist
-The radar sensor's vision can be reduced
or entirely blocked by rain, snow, and
heavy spray . This can result in side assist
not adequately detecting vehicles or, in
some cases, not detecting them at all.
Always keep an eye on the direction you
are traveling and the relevant area
around the vehicle.
- Please note that side assist indicates
there are approaching vehicles, or
vehicles in your blind spot, only after
your vehicle has reached a driving speed
of at least 19 mph (30 km/h).
- Side assist signal does not work around
tight corners (turning radius less than
328 feet, or 100 m).
- Side assist is no replacement for the driv
er's full attention. The driver alone is re
sponsible for lane changes and similar
driving maneuvers. Always keep an eye
on the direction you are traveling and the relevant area around the vehicle.
- To ensure that you do not adversely af
fect side assist, do not block the area on
the rear bumper where the radar sensors
are located with foreign objects (such as
stickers or bicycle racks).
- Make sure that the signal light on the
outside mirror is not blocked by stickers
or other items.
(Di Tips
- Side assist automatically deactivates if it
detects that the radar sensors are
blocked ¢
page 135. The indicator light
on the button goes out .
- The area on the bumper where the radar
sensors are located must consistently re
main free of snow, ice, and heavy soiling
so that side assist can function properly.
Follow the additional notes on
¢page 136.
-For vehicles with a factory installed tow
ing hitch* or a trailer hitch* that was in
stalled later according to factory specifi
cations, side assist is automatically deac- tivated
as soon as the electrical connec
tion to the trailer electrical socket is made
¢ page 135.
-For vehicles with a trailer hitch that was
not installed according to factory specifi
cations, switch off the side assist when
towing a trailer .
- Additional tinting on the front side win
dows can make it harder to see and cor
rectly understand the signal light on the
outside mirror.
- For Declaration of Compliance to United
States FCC and Industry Canada regula
tions¢
page 319.
Sensor detection area
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
-----··· .... ·--·--
@ / ,
--
ill b''T -
Fig. 150 Sc hematic illustration: Sensor detectio n area
The detection ¢ fig. 150 of the radar sensor
detection area is made up of:
-
- the approach area (light red area) (D, about
230 feet (70 m) behind the vehicle, and
- the "blind spot" (dark red area) @.
The radar sensors cover the adjacent left and
right lanes. Other lanes are
not covered by the
radar sensors.
(D Tips
Side assist does not measure actual lane
width. The system assumes a fixed lane
width . Detection in the left and right lanes
is based on this assumed lane width.
When driving on narrow roads or when
driving to the left or right of the center of
a travel lane, it is possible that vehicles
will be detected that are
not in the lane
next to the lane you are using
¢page 135.
Operation
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Side assist compares the distance and differ
ence in speed of detected vehicles with the
speed of your vehicle . Whenever the differ
ence in speed and d istance is registered as no
table if you were to change lanes, a signal l ight appea rs on the respective mirror.
The signal can light up if you are passed by a
vehicle or if you are pass ing another vehicle.
If you pass another vehicle s lowly (difference
in speed less than 9 mph, or 15 km/h), the
signal light will come on as soon as the other
vehicle is in your blind spot and is detected by
side assist . When the difference in speed is
g reater, the signal light will not come on.
Informational and alert stage signals
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Side assist has two signal stages:
- the informational stage signal, and
- the alert stage signal.
Side assist he lps you by using the appropriate
signal stage, depending on whether or not
you have activated the turn signal, and thus have indicated that you are or are not chang
in g lanes .
Informational stage signal
As long as you have not activated the turn sig
nal, side assist informs you of detected
vehicles that are registered as being in a nota
b le location if you were to change lanes.
Whenever the detected vehicle's difference in speed and distance is registered by side assist
as notable, the signal light on the respective
mirror produces muted illuminat ion.
The br ightness of the informat ional stage sig
nal is designed not to be as intense, so that it
does not interfere with your view of the road
when yo u are driving and have no intention of
changing lanes. When you look i n the outside
Aud i side assist 131
mirror, you can clearly see the informational
stage signal.
Alert stage signal
When you activate the turn signal, and s ide
ass ist has detected a vehicle in a notable loca
t ion on that part icular s ide, the signa l light on
this side mirror flashes brightly. The repeated
brief and bright flashing of the alert stage
signal reminds you to carefully check traffic to
the rear in the outside mirror and over your
shoulder, so that you can safely complete the lane change
¢ A in Safety tips on page 136 .
@ Tips
The brightness of the signal light on the
outside mirrors can be adjusted with the
MMI ¢page 134.
Driving situation: Fast approaching
vehicles
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Fig. 151 Side assist : Fast app roaching vehicles
@ Signal on outside mirror does not light
up
No vehicle was detected by the sensors. The
signal on the outside mirror does not light up
¢ A in Safety tips on page 136. IJJ,,
132 Audi side assist
@ Informational stage signal lights up
A fast approaching veh icle - in the left-hand
l ane for examp le - was detected by the sen
sors . Although this vehicle is sti ll far away, it
should be taken into account if you were to
change lanes, due to the considerable differ
ence in speed. The informational stage signal
on the outside m irror lights up
c::;, page 131.
@ Alert stage signal flashes
If you activate your turn signal in driving sit
uation @, the signal briefly f lashes repeated
ly. Side ass ist is alerting you to a veh icle that
you may not have noticed.
@ Tips
- The faster a vehicle approaches from the
rear, the sooner the signal on the outside
mirror lights up. Side assist will signa l,
at the latest, when a detected vehicle en
ters your "blind spot" .
- When vehicles approach very quickly,
changing lanes can be dangerous even if
the signal on the outside mirror does not
light up.
Driving situation: Slowly approaching
vehicles
Applies to vehicles : wi th side assist
@
Fig. 152 Side assist: S low ly approac hing veh icles and
veh icles in yo ur blind spot
@ Signal on outside mirror does not light
up
A vehicle approaching slowly -in the left-hand
lane for example - was detec ted by the sen
sors. Because of the small d ifference in speed
and the considerable distance from your vehi
cle, the signal on the outside mirror will not
light up
c::;, &. in Safety tips on page 136.
@ Informational stage signal lights up
The distance between your vehicle and that of
the slow ly approaching vehicle has narrowed .
The informationa l stage signal on the outside
mirror lights up.
As soon as the differe nce in speed and dis
tance is registered as notable if you were to
change lanes, a signa l on the mirror lights up.
Side assist will signal at the latest when a de-
tected vehicle enters your "b lind spot". .,,.
@ Alert stage signal flashes
If you activate your turn signal in driving sit
uation @, the signa l light briefly flashes re
peatedly. Side assist is alerting you of a vehi
cle that you may not have noticed .
@ Tips
-The faster a vehicle approaches from the
rear, the sooner the signa l on the outside
mirror lights up. Side assist will signa l,
at the latest, when a detected vehicle en
ters your "blind spot".
- When vehicles approach very quickly,
changing lanes can be dangerous even if
the signal on the outside mirror does not
light up.
Driving situation: Vehicles dropping
back slowly
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
®
Fig . 153 Side assist: Vehicles dropp ing back s lowly
CD Signal on outs ide mirror does not light
up
The vehicle that you passed has not yet been
detected by side assist . The signal on the out
side mirror does not light up
q .& in Safety
tips on page 136.
Audi side assist 133
@ Informational stage signal lights up
A vehicle dropping back slowly on the r ight
(difference in speed of less than 9 mph, or lS
km/h) has been detected by side assist. The
informational stage signa l on the outside mir
ror lights up.
@ Alert stage signal flashes
If you activate yo ur turn signal in driving sit
uation @, the signal briefly flashes repeated
ly. Side assist is alerting you of a vehicle that
you may not have noticed.
Driving situation: Vehicles dropping
back quickly
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
®
Fig. 154 Side assist: Veh icles dropp ing back quickly
CD Signal on outside mirror does not light
up
T he vehicle just passed has not yet been de
tected by side ass ist. The sign al on the out
side mirror does not light up
q .& in Safety
tips on page 136 .
@ Signal on outside mirror does not light
up
The vehicle dropping back quickly on the right
( difference in speed of more than 9 mph, or
lS km/h) has been detected by side assist,
1J1>
134 Audi side assist
but is not considered notable in the event of a
lane change, because it is dropping back so
quickly. The signal on the outside mirror does
not light up¢.&.
in Safe ty tips on page 136.
@ Signal on outside mirror does not light
up
If you activate your turn signal in driving sit
uation @, the signal still does not light up on
the outside mirror¢.&.
in Safe ty tips on
page 136 .
MMI settings
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
The basic brightness se tting of the signal on
t he ou tside mirror can be adjusted via the
MMI .
.. Select : I CARI function button> Systems*
control button > Audi side assist. Or
.. Select :
I CAR ! function button > Car systems*
control button > Driver assist > Audi side
assist.
The brightne ss of the sign al light for both the
informational and alert stages is automatical
ly adjusted to ambient light conditions. In ad
dition, you can adjust the
basic brightness
separately, via the brightness function.
While making the adjustment, the new
brightness setting is displayed briefly . The
brightness displayed is that of the informa
tional stage signal. The alert stage signal
brightness is linked to the informational stage
signal brightness.
The informational stage signal brightness
should be adjusted so that you notice the sig
nal illumination when you look in the outside
mirror, but not when you look forward
through the windshield.
In very dark or light surroundings , the auto
matic brightness setting adjusts signal light
brightness to maximum or minimum intensi
ty, as needed. In circumstances such as these,
you may not notice any change in the bright
ness on the outside mirror when adjusting the
basic brightness .
You may not notice the change until lighting
conditions are normal again.
(D Tips
- Side assist is not active when the basic
brightness is adjusted. The signal light
comes on briefly to help you make the
adjustment.
- Your settings are automatically stored
and assigned to the remote control key
being used.
· General information '
Applies to vehicles : with side assist
Side assist has limits and canno t detect
vehicles under all road and weather condi
tions . Please remember system limitations
and never rely on the system, especially when:
- driving through curves¢
page 134,
-lanes are of different widths¢ page 135.
' When driving through curves
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Side assist cannot detect vehicles in curves
with a turning radius of less than 328 feet
(100 m).
When driving through a curve, it is possible
that side assi st may register a vehicle two
lanes over, and the signal on the outside mir
ror will light up.
136 Audi side a ssis t
Safety tips
App lies to vehicles: wit h side ass ist
The s ide ass ist detect ion may be lim ited when
d riving around narrow street corners , on hilly
streets, and under poor weathe r cond itions.
It is poss ible that the radar sensors may also
detect other objects , such as high or stag
gered guardra ils .
Side assist does not measure actual lane
width . The system assumes a fixed lane w idth .
Detection in the left and r ight lanes is based
on this assumed lane width . When driving on
na rrow roads or when driving to the left or
right of the center of a travel lane , it is possi
b le that vehicles will be detected that are
not
in the lane next to the lane you are using.
A WARNING
- Improper reliance on the s ide assist sys
tem can cause collisions and serious per
sonal injury :
- Never rely only on side assist when
changing lanes .
- Always check rear view mirrors to make
sure that it is safe to change lanes.
- Side ass ist cannot detect a ll vehicles un
der all cond itions- danger of accident!
- Side ass ist cannot detect vehicles in time
to alert you when they approach from beh ind at very h igh speeds or drop back
very quick ly .
- T he radar sensor's
vision can be reduced
or entirely blocked by rain, snow, and
heavy spray. This can result in side assist
not adequately detecting vehicles or, in
some cases, not detecting them at a ll.
Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling and the relevant area
around the vehicle .
- Please note that side assist indicates
there are approaching vehicles, or
vehicles in your blind spot, only after
your vehicle has reached a driving speed
of at least 19 mph (30 km/h). -
Side assist signa l does not work around
tight corners (turning radius less than
328 feet, or 100 m).
- Side assist is no replacement for the driv
er 's full attention. The driver alone is re
sponsible for lane changes and sim ilar
driving maneuvers. Always keep an eye
on the d irect ion you are traveling and the
re levant area around the vehicle.
(D Note
To ensure that side assist is not adversely
affected, you should not block the area on
the rear bumper where the radar sensors
are located with foreign objects (such as
with stickers or bi cycle racks).
(D Tips
If the pos itions of the radar sensors have
been changed as a result of a rear end-co l
lision, for instance, have s ide assist
checked by an autho rized Aud i dealer for
safety reasons.
146 Parking sy stems
- The came ra lens en larges and distorts
the field of vision. The object appears
both altered and inaccurate on the
screen.
- In certa in s ituations, people or objects in
the display appear closer or further
away:
- objects th at do no t touch the gro und,
such as the bumper o f a parked vehicle,
a trailer hitch o r the rea r of a truck. Do
not use the help lines in this case.
- If driven from a leve l su rface onto an
incline, or a downward slope .
- I f driven toward protr uding objec ts.
- I f the veh icle is ca rrying too much load
in t he rear.
(D Note
-Always read and fo llow the applicab le
warnings
¢ (D in General information on
page 143 .
-The o range colored orientation lines in
t h e M MI disp lay show t he ve hicl e path
depend ing o n the steering wheel angle .
The front of the vehicle fron t swings out
more than the rea r of the vehicle. Main
ta in p lenty of distance so that your o ut
s ide mirror or a corner of your veh icle
does not collide with any obstacles.
Switching on and off
Applies to vehicles: with Audi parking system p lus w ith
rearview camera
F ig . 167 Center co nsole: P"A button
F ig . 1 68 MMI display: Visual distance display
Switching on
.. Switch the MMI on .
.. Shift into reverse, or
.. Press the
l" •I button in the center console
c:;, fig. 167 . A short confirmation tone
sounds and the LED in the button lights up .
Switching between the rearv iew camera
and visual display
.. Press the Graphic control button
c:;, page 147, fig. 169 ® to see the vis ual
disp lay.
.. Press the
Rear vi ew control b utton to see
t he rearview c amera image
c:;, fig. 168 .
Switching off
.. Dr ive faster than 6 mph (10 km/h) , or
.. Press the~ button, or
.. Switch off the ignition .
Visual displ ay
The red segments in front of and behind the
vehicle
c> fig. 168 help you to determ ine the
distance between you and an obstacle . As
your vehicle comes closer to the obstacle , the
segments move closer to t he veh icle. The col
lis ion are a has been rea ched when the next to
last segment is displayed . Do no t con tinue
driving farther forward or in reverse
c:;, .&. in
General information on page 143, c:;,@ in
General information on page 143.
(D Tips
-The visua l display in the left part of the
disp lay sho uld he lp you detect t he crit i
cal ve hicle areas .