Should you Disable EyeSight in Severe Weather Conditions

[statueim]

Please note, I am not asking whether you should rely on this system from an ethical standpoint when it's raining/snowing, but I am asking whether anyone has any experience with the system's performance in the rain (and eventually snow when winter hits) and how much its safety features are diminished by adverse weather conditions. Subaru indicates that EyeSight will not work in certain weather conditions, but I am curious to know if you are potentially putting yourself in danger by leaving it on and how robust the system truly is. For instance, if the system were poorly designed, could two well-timed big snowflakes (each one coming toward the dual camera's at the same rate) cause your car to slam on its brakes and start you into skidding off an icy road into a ditch?

Since the system is vision-based near the top of the windshield (based on the pictures I have seen it looks like they are positioned where the windshield wipers might not do the best job of clearing slush built-up on the windshield), I am wondering how the system works when the camera's vision is impaired. If any of this is in an owner's manual or somewhere online, if you could point me to that information, I would be appreciative as I do not have access to an owner's manual and all I can find online at this point are articles singing the praises of EyeSight and very little of situations where it does not work effectively.

If anyone can comment on true-life experiences in the rain or snow, please share.

That said, I am also looking for some data in a more scientific fashion in the absence of severe weather. I hope Subaru performed a similar set of tests (and hopefully more thorough/advanced) so they know how their system works even if they will not publish the results. I have an initial set of tests I am curious about that would answer some of my questions and I would hope that in all the situations where EyeSight cannot function properly that it would annoyingly beep at the driver indicating the system cannot function properly until the driver turns it off. That said, what would happen if you were to...
1. Fully obscure both EyeSight cameras with masking tape. This test is to simulate snow/slush fully blocking the camera's field of view (i.e. after a heavy snow, you just got in your car and turned on the windshield wipers without clearing off your windshield).
2. Fully obscure one EyeSight camera only with masking tape. This test is the same as test 1, but I wonder if EyeSight tries to do anything still without the two camera's required for depth perception.
3. Partially obscure one or both EyeSight cameras with masking tape. This test is basically the same as tests 1 and 2, but it should still be able to work to some extent.
4. Partially obscure both EyeSight cameras with saran wrap (making sure there are wrinkles in the camera's field of view) and secure the saran wrap around the edges using masking tape or some other material (but do not let any non-transparent material cover the camera's field of view). This test is to simulate a thin layer of ice build-up on the windshield.

If anyone can think of other tests that they would be interested in performing and would be kind enough to share the results here as well, that would great too.

I would perform the above tests myself, but I have a 2010 (no EyeSight) so would any of you owners of cars with EyeSight be kind enough to perform the above tests if you are also curious to see how your car works before those severe weather conditions arrive?

[scoobydoo2]

...In crappy weather like slippery roads, snow, and ice....I would want control of the car. I don't think that the eyesight system takes all those factors into consideration when it is operating. There is no substitute for human input in these conditions.

[plain OM]

No experience with it, but fascinated with the idea, and your questions.

Based on this video (Principle Of Operation) I have the impression Eyesight does not function when vision is obscured and it can't properly process the information.

It has to "triangulate" on an object (or objects) within it's field of vision based on the data from both cameras. If vision is obscured in either, it can't, and therefore won't activate.

Also, as is noted in the video, Eyesight can't recognize near objects, such as a car cutting in just ahead, cars moving rapidly in a cross street, or a pedestrian stepping otu into the road just in front of the car.

I guess it's important for drivers to be aware of the limitations; this should be in the Owners Manual, or a supplementary document.

[mpnret]

Originally Posted by plain OM

No experience with it, but fascinated with the idea, and your questions.

Based on this video (Principle Of Operation) I have the impression Eyesight does not function when vision is obscured and it can't properly process the information.

It has to "triangulate" on an object (or objects) within it's field of vision based on the data from both cameras. If vision is obscured in either, it can't, and therefore won't activate.

Also, as is noted in the video, Eyesight can't recognize near objects, such as a car cutting in just ahead, cars moving rapidly in a cross street, or a pedestrian stepping otu into the road just in front of the car.

I guess it's important for drivers to be aware of the limitations; this should be in the Owners Manual, or a supplementary document.

It comes with its own owners manual and most of what you mentioned is covered. It does work with fairly close objects. For example it will activate if I cut it close while pulling into my garage as the door is going up.

[statueim]

Originally Posted by scoobydoo2

...In crappy weather like slippery roads, snow, and ice....I would want control of the car. I don't think that the eyesight system takes all those factors into consideration when it is operating. There is no substitute for human input in these conditions.

I agree 100%, but does the EyeSight system default to "on" operation (and you have to turn it off manually) or is it a default "off" and you have to manually turn it on each time you start the car? I was assuming the former and that most people would just hop into their car assuming no harm no foul when they go driving in the snow with it turned on by default.

[Edit]

Originally Posted by plain OM

Based on this video (Principle Of Operation) I have the impression Eyesight does not function when vision is obscured and it can't properly process the information.

I just watched the video plain OM listed and it does appear to be a default on behavior (quoting the video "[EyeSight] automatically comes into operation 10 seconds after the engine is started").

[statueim]

Originally Posted by mpnret

It comes with its own owners manual and most of what you mentioned is covered.

Did you mean plain OM's questions, my questions, or both with this statement?

[lynnvin]

I have eyesight and was driving on the highway during a very foggy morning in a heavy rain storm. Visibility was minimal with the fog, rain and spray from all the cars tires. Eyesight disabled automatically when visibility got real bad then engaged when things got clearer.

[mpnret]

I noticed it also does this in bright sunlight. It seems to know whenever it can't function and shuts down. The manual also mentions it.

[scoobert]

In six weeks of driving, the system holds up remarkably well under real-world conditions. I may be able to clear up a few misconceptions. First, it's important to remember that there are multiple responses when the system detects an obstacle. The first option is to disregard, say it spots two large snowflakes coming right at the windshield or a chipmunk darts across the road. In either case, the algorithms say "meh" and shrug it off (more on that later).

Assume instead it's a small dog and not a chipmunk. Depending on the threat to the vehicle/occupant/dog the system may alert the driver and do nothing else. Factoring in size, speed, distance, etc. the system may want to cut the gas. So, there are multiple responses that do not include applying the brakes. It's not like you're driving along...driving...driving...driving...driving...sn owflake/SLAM BRAKES.

So, how do I know that snowflakes don't trigger the brakes? First, I've driven through rain and had the system operate just fine and I've driven through rainstorms that caused Eyesight to disable itself. But rain isn't the only thing you're going to encounter on the road. What happens if my brother-in-law takes a tub of leaves up to the roof and drops them as I idle past? Answer: alert, no braking. What if same bro-in-law holds limb while I drive by at 20 mph and lowers limb to windshield height? Answer: depends on size of limb. Small limb causes alert, no braking. Larger limb causes alert plus slow to stop (no slamming of brakes).

If I were bored (and so inclined) I would set up a more methodical testing regime. Someone else will have to take it further.

[foxrider68]

The only time I've felt the need to disable anything is in a construction zone as they move you along with the cones over solid lines. I turn off the lane departure warning as it can get annoying then.

The only glitch I've discovered in 1600 miles is I was driving home and there was a shiny patch of road and the collission warning sound went off and then off but it never hit the brakes. The cars has a 3 zones in regards to collissions. One, audible alarm, two braking, three emergency breaking. Two and three can happen pretty quickly though. I'm not worried though the system has worked great for me thus far. In fact on my way home in traffic I just set cruise to 64 and the car hardly ever gets there. Which means the adaptive cruise control is working the whole way home, its sooooo nice.