Mumbai: General Motors owned Opel cars will soon be equipped with a new two-in-one camera with advanced technology that aids drivers to improve driving safety, reduce stress and can even prevent costly speeding tickets.

The traffic sign recognition function would read speed limit and no-passing signs and displays them on the instrument panel, while the lane departure warning will alert drivers when they unintentionally cut out of their lane.

Known as the Opel Eye, the wide-angle, high-resolution camera and processors were jointly developed by GM and Opel engineers in Rüsselsheim and specialists from supplier Hella. The camera, located between the windshield and the rear-view mirror, detects road signs and lane markings. It is not much bigger than a mobile phone yet can take 30 pictures per second. Two signal processors, with the help of proprietary GM software, filter and read the photos.

The traffic sign detection technology can read speed limit and no-passing signs and even notify drivers when speed restrictions have been lifted. Depending on light conditions, the system can recognise and repeatedly read signs at 100 meters. It starts by focusing on circular patterns then identifies the numbers inside them via contour comparison. If a picture matches an image of a road sign in the car's software, the sign is displayed in the instruments panel.

The system always displays the most relevant information for safe driving, filtering out many signs that may overwhelm drivers. If two signs are recognised in close proximity to one another, then special notice signs, like ''no passing'' restriction would take precedence over a speed limit sign.

The notices are displayed for a few seconds as a symbol in the center of the instrument panel between the main round dials. In addition, drivers can recall the image any time by pressing a button on the steering wheel. Traffic Sign Detection can be activated via a sub-page in the car's onboard computer menu.

The Opel Eye gives more accurate information than portable navigation systems with stored speed limits because the camera works in real time. If a speed limit changes, due to road construction for instance, the Opel Eye detects it.

The processors are able to recognize traffic signs because most are designed uniformly in line with the Vienna Convention on road signs and signals, which was established in 1968, to standardise road signs throughout more than 80 countries.

The Opel Eye camera also checks whether drivers stay in their chosen lane on the highway. This helps prevent a dangerous situation, such as a driver falling asleep at the wheel. Lane Departure Warning can be switched on or off via a button. When active, it warns the driver with a gong sound and a blinking signal on the instrument panel.

Lane departure warning uses a second signal processor and software to filter lines and longitudinal patterns at speeds above 50 km/h. This enables the system to recognize the traffic lane. By using specific algorithms that define the conditions in which alerts are given and by noticing steering wheel and turn-indicator movements - signaling an intentional lane change - the system is designed only to intervene at the appropriate moment.

Drivers can be warned in advance if another car is traveling in a blind spot, stopped in an area that is difficult or impossible to see, or about to enter the same intersection. A pilot project is currently underway in the German state of Hessen in collaboration with the state government.

The Opel Eye, featuring the traffic sign detection and lane departure warning will be available as an option in the new Opel Insignia in 2009. Other models will offer the systems in the future, in line with Opel's philosophy of democratisng technology.

In 2003, Opel was the first automaker to introduce the innovative Adaptive Forward Lighting system with dynamic curve lighting and 90-degree cornering light to the mid-size car class. That same year, Opel made electronic Continuous Damping Control available to Astra drivers. Prior to that, this feature usually was found only in luxury class and exclusive sports cars.

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