Your vehicle's ability to understand its surroundings is achieved through many systems and types of sensors. The vehicle's interpretation of the data it collects helps inform its behavior, especially for driver support features.
| Cameras | Cameras work similarly to the human eye. What they capture is used for different purposes, which depends on the camera. For example, the upper front-facing camera helps the vehicle identify things such as traffic signs and road markings, while the rear parking camera captures images to show in the center display. |
| Front radar units | The radar units use radio waves to collect information about the vehicle's surroundings. They can identify the distance to objects and certain aspects of their movement. This information is essential for many features in the vehicle. |
| Ultrasonic parking sensors | These sensors use sound waves to detect relatively close objects. They work by sending out ultrasound pulses that can bounce back to the sensors when they encounter an object. |
How the systems work together
The different detection types complement each other. They are sometimes used on their own and sometimes together.
Important
General detection and identification limitations
- The vehicle can't always handle unpredictable or unusual situations. When the vehicle finds it difficult to correctly identify the environment or traffic situation, the accuracy of its response is affected.
- Damage to the vehicle can affect detection and features that use it. Many faults can be identified by the vehicle, but some may not be possible to self-identify. This is why it's important to make sure that the vehicle is in good condition and working order. Contact Polestar Customer Support if you suspect there is any fault or if you notice damage to the vehicle.
- Limiting factors and conditions can, and frequently do, coincide. They can compound and interact in ways that lead the vehicle to respond incorrectly.
Limitations in obstacle detection
Obstacle detection helps the vehicle identify certain stationary and moving objects. These include other road users, such as pedestrians or other vehicles, as well as animals, barriers and other objects. Objects in or near the vehicle's driving path could pose a collision risk. Depending on the circumstances, the vehicle may be able to warn you or intervene if the object is accurately identified. For every type of object that the vehicle can identify, many factors may prevent accurate identification. Examples of limiting factors, situations and events include:
- Closely spaced, overlapping or partially blocked objects and road users.
- Objects and road users that blend in with the background.
- Objects and road users that move or accelerate particularly quickly.
- Uncommon vehicles, such as recumbent bicycles, combine harvesters or trailers with oddly shaped loads.
- Bicycles of a different type or size compared to a regular adult bicycle.
- New modes of transportation.
- Pedestrians wearing clothing or carrying objects that alter their silhouette.
- Pedestrians shorter than 80 cm (32 inches).
- Obstacles angled in ways that create an unknown silhouette.
- Size and speed of animals. Cats and dogs are often too small to identify reliably.
Note
Traffic detection examples
The following examples of different traffic scenarios can help you understand some of the limitations of your vehicle's detection systems. Real-world scenarios are often more complex than the following illustrative1 examples in this manual.
Out of view and late detection
The various detection zones around your vehicle are static, each with a limited range and field of view. If something enters a detection zone at an unusual angle, at high speed or very close to your vehicle, it can cause a rapid response. This reduces safety margins compared to a situation in which earlier detection is possible.
Important
Lane placement and small vehicles
In forward detection, objects in the middle of the travel lane are easier to detect than those towards the edges of the lane. Vehicles may go undetected if they don't occupy the middle of the lane. While this can happen with any vehicle, the risk is higher for small ones, such as motorcycles. They take up less of the lane's width and may move around more within the lane. Always pay extra attention to any vehicle not driving in the middle of the lane.
Shape, size and number of objects
- Small objects are harder to identify.
- The more objects within the field of view, the harder it is to identify individual ones.
- Objects close together that overlap are harder to identify.
- Objects with non-uniform shapes, such as those with overhangs or parts that stick out, are harder to identify.
The presence of a large vehicle in front can make it difficult to identify a smaller one following behind it, such as a motorcycle.
Important
Trailer in front
Trailer detection is often less reliable compared to other types of vehicles due to their shape and height. This is particularly true for narrow trailers, low trailers and trailers with very high cargo beds. Such trailers often don't have enough surface area at the height where the forward detection systems focus.
Road and infrastructure
Curves in the road can cause the vehicle to misinterpret the traffic situation. For example, it can lose track of a vehicle or misidentify which lane a vehicle ahead is in.
Important
Road condition and irregularities
- Sharp curves and bumps in the road can temporarily obscure important parts of the vehicle's surroundings, such as other vehicles or road markings.
- The vehicle might not correctly identify non-standard or unusual road infrastructure. For example, road work or traffic diversions can result in conflicting or multiple sets of road markings.
- Worn road markings or signs might not be correctly identified.