The 2019 Audi A8 Driver Assistance Systems
eSelf-Study Program 990393

Audi of America, LLC
Service Training
Created in the U.S.A.
Created 06/2018
Course Number 990393
©2018 Audi of America, LLC
All rights reserved. Information contained in this manual is based on
the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to
the copyright and other intellectual property rights of Audi of America,
LLC., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to
make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other
sites without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.
All requests for permission to copy and redistribute information should
be referred to Audi of America, LLC.
Always check Technical Bulletins and the latest electronic service repair
literature for information that may supersede any information included
in this booklet.

Revision: June 20, 2018
ii

Introduction

1

The new Audi A8 driver assist systems
1
New driver assistance systems for longitudinal
and lateral control
2

Active lane departure warning

4

Switching on and off
Displays
Master control module

4
5
5

Adaptive cruise assist

6

Introduction
Displays and operation

6
7

Longitudinal control

10

Overview
Predictive efficiency assist

10
12

Lateral control

16

New features of the vehicle's lateral control
function
16
Functional configuration and sensors required

18
Control modules partnered to adaptive cruise
assist
20

Emergency assist

22

Function
22
Time sequence of active emergency assist
processes
23
Time sequences of emergency assist processes
during vehicle operation without assist systems
activated
24
Time sequence of emergency assist processes
when driving with adaptive cruise assist
26

Parking systems
Parking system plus
Rear view camera
3rd generation surround view cameras

27
27
29
31

Profile master for driver assistance
systems
33
Structure
Operating concept
System configuration

2nd generation matrix LED high
beam assist
Operating the system and setting options
Additional functions
System networking

33
35
37

3rd generation camera-based traffic
sign recognition system

43
Rear radar based driver assistance
systems
44
New features of side assist
Turn assist function of side assist
Use of turn assist in other traffic scenarios
New features of the exit warning system
New features of cross-traffic assist

Intersection assist
Functional description
Intersection assist sensors
Warnings of intersection assist
Driver information
System networking

45
46
47
48
49

50
50
51
52
53
54

Driver Assistance Systems Control
Module J1121
56
Versions
Installation location of J1121
J1121 and its inputs
J1121 – Version A0
J1121 – Version A
J1121 – Version B
J1121 – Version C

56
57
58
60
61
62
64

Laser Distance Regulation Control
Module J1122
66
Design and function
Service

66
68

Control Module for Adaptive Cruise
Control J428
69
Design and function
Operation and driver information
Service operations

69
69
69

eSelf-Study Programs

70

Knowledge assessment

71

38
40
40
41

iii

The eSelf-Study Program (eSSP) teaches a basic understanding of the design and mode of operation of new models, new
automotive components or new technologies.

Note

It is not a repair manual! Figures are given for explanatory purposes only and refer to the data valid at the time of
preparation of the SSP.
For further information about maintenance and repair work, always refer to the current technical literature.

iv

Reference

Introduction
The new Audi A8 driver assist systems
When it comes to the Audi A8, each model change marks the
premiere of innovative solutions and new automotive
systems. Each new Audi A8 model broadens the spectrum of
driver assistance systems and extends the range of situations
in which drivers are assisted by cutting-edge technology.

A new laser scanner is being used for the first time. It is
located at the front end of the vehicle and enhances the
performance of existing systems by precisely surveying the
area in front of the vehicle. New driver assistance systems
would not be possible without it.

The 5th generation of the Audi A8 includes new features such
as intersection assist - a system that assists drivers in
impaired visibility situations such as at intersections and
obscured exits. The system helps the driver to avoid collisions
with cross-traffic ahead of the vehicle by issuing several different types of warning.

The 2019 Audi A8 utilizes, for the first time at Audi, a central
driver assistance systems control module which acts as the
master control for multiple assistance systems. Its service
designation is Driver Assistance Systems Control Module
J1121. It replaces several control modules whose functions
are now integrated in J1121.

Adaptive cruise assist is also featured for the first time in the
Audi A8. It assists the driver by providing longitudinal and
lateral control assistance over a continuous speed range from
0 to 155.3 mph (0 to 250 km/h). This system combines
several driver assistance systems featured previously in other
Audi models.

Several sensors are connected directly to J1121 but no longer
utilize an in-car bus system. The sensor data is processed in
J1121. This applies to the front camera for driver assistance
systems and the four surround view cameras. In turn, J1121
receives data from the other sensors via the FlexRay bus.
The fact that all sensor data is now available in a single
control module means it is possible to supply functions with
high-quality data on the area around the vehicle. This, in turn,
is the basis for further improvements in the performance of
the various driver assistance systems.

1

New driver assistance systems for longitudinal and lateral control
New structure
At the launch of the 2019 A8, two new driver assistance
systems were created from the three well-known assistance
systems.

In terms of the functionality of the individual systems there
have been no fundamental changes, but the grouping of
the systems is new. In addition, the newly created driver
assistance systems have been given new designations.

These are the three established driver assistance systems:
1. Audi active lane assist (AALA)
Audi active lane assist aids the driver with lateral control
of the vehicle by providing corrective steering inputs. The
driver can accept the system's corrective steering inputs or
override them at any time.
With AALA, the driver can select from "early" and "late"
corrective steering points in the MMI. The "early" corrective
steering point corresponds to a lane assist system in that it
tries to keep the vehicle in the center of its lane by continuously applying corrective steering inputs.
The alternative to the "early" corrective steering point is the
"late" corrective steering point.

Characteristic of the steering torque applied at the "early"
corrective steering point as a function of vehicle position
relative to the center of the lane

668_001

In this configuration, the system works to prevent the
vehicle from unintentionally leaving its lane. When the
vehicle approaches a lane boundary line, corrective steering
torque is applied towards the center of the lane. A requirement for corrective steering inputs is that a turn signal has
not been activated beforehand; this would indicate that the
driver intends to change lanes. In addition to the corrective
steering torque applied when crossing over a lane boundary
line, the steering wheel vibrates. This function can also be
deactivated in the MMI. An activated turn signal would,
however, prevent the vibration warning as the system
assumes again in this case that the driver intends to change
lanes.

Characteristic of the steering torque applied at the "late"
corrective steering point as a function of vehicle position
relative to the center of the lane

668_002

2. Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
Adaptive cruise control is an enhancement of the existing
cruise control system. In addition to adapting the speed of
the vehicle, the system also adapts to a variable distance to
a vehicle ahead. When the vehicle approaches a vehicle
driving ahead, ACC maintains the set distance to this
vehicle. If no traffic is detected ahead, the system acts as a
regular cruise control system.

In the case of the ACC system, the driver is still required to
operate the accelerator and brake pedals in certain situations. The process of vehicle speed adaptation is also
referred to as longitudinal control. An active Adaptive
cruise control system provides for longitudinal control of
the vehicle whenever the momentary road and traffic conditions permit. The responsibility for longitudinal control of
the vehicle, however, still remains with the driver.

3. Traffic jam assist
Traffic jam assist helps the driver in traffic jam situations. It
takes over longitudinal and lateral control of the vehicle up
to a maximum speed of 37.2 mph (60 km/h).
When traffic jam assist is active, the driver can let the
system operate the accelerator and brake pedals.

2

However, the driver must be able to take control of the
vehicle again. Full responsibility for operating the vehicle
still remains with the driver. The driver's hands must stay
on the steering wheel when lateral control is active. The
driver can accept or override the steering torque applied by
the system.

The following two new driver assistance systems are offered in the Audi A8 :

1. Active lane departure warning

2. Adaptive cruise assist

The working principle of the Active lane departure warning
corresponds to that of the Audi active lane assist with "late"
corrective steering point. It is offered in the Audi A8 for the
first time as a separate function.

Adaptive cruise assist combines three formerly independent systems - adaptive cruise control, Audi active lane
assist with "early" corrective steering point and traffic jam
assist - in a single system. The new driver assistance system
offers continuous longitudinal and lateral control over a
speed range from 0 to 155.3 mph (250 km/h). Because
adaptive cruise assist is also a driver assistance system, the
driver retains full responsibility for operating the vehicle
even while the system is in use. It is offered in the 2019 A8
for the first time as an independent function.

System configuration in the 2017 Q7 and 2017 A4/A5
Audi active lane assist
"late" corrective
steering input

"early" corrective
steering input

Active lane departure
warning

Adaptive
cruise control

Traffic jam assist

Adaptive cruise assist

System configuration in the 2019 A8
668_003

3

Active lane departure warning
The lane departure warning system warns the driver when
the vehicle is in danger of leaving its lane. A requirement
for a lane departure warning is, however, that the driver
has not indicated an intent to change lane by activating the
corresponding turn signal.

The system uses the turn signal to determine whether the
imminent lane departure is intended or not. A warning is
issued only if the system assumes that the lane departure
is unintentional.

A warning that the vehicle is about to cross over a lane boundary line can be issued in three different ways:
1. By a corrective steering input towards the center of the lane by
the system.

3. By highlighting the affected lane boundary line in red on the
instrument cluster display.

2. Through steering wheel vibration.

Notes on the warning mechanisms:
›› When adaptive cruise assist with lane assist is active, no
further further corrective steering inputs are provided
shortly before the vehicle crosses over a lane boundary
line. Active lane assist is already a protective mechanism, which prevents the vehicle from unintentionally
leaving its lane by providing corrective steering inputs.

›› The steering wheel vibration warning can be switched on
and off in the MMI. The current setting is saved as a
custom setting when the ignition is switched off.

Switching on and off
The lane departure warning can be switched on and off with
a virtual button on the lower touch display. When the lane
departure warning is off, a red bar is displayed over the
function symbol. The lane departure warning is always
switched off for only one Terminal 15 cycle. The lane departure warning is reactivated next time the ignition is
switched on, regardless of whether the ignition was off or
on when the lane departure warning was switched off.

The steering assist button on the end of the turn signal
stalk is of no relevance to the lane departure warning. It is
used only to activate and deactivate the Audi active lane
assist function of adaptive cruise assist.

Lane departure
warning is ON

Positioning of the virtual button for activating and deactivating the lane departure warning

4

668_004

668_005

Lane departure
warning is OFF

668_006

Displays
The current activation status of the lane departure warning is indicated by the function symbol in the instrument cluster or
on the head-up display.

The lane departure warning is OFF.

668_007

668_008

668_009

668_010

668_011

668_012

668_013

668_014

668_015

668_016

The lane departure warning is ON but inactive. Possible reasons for
this include driving at too low a speed or the absence of lane
boundary lines.

The lane departure warning is ON and active. The system is currently only able to detect the left lane boundary line. For this
reason, a warning can only be issued when the vehicle leaves its
lane to the left.

The lane departure warning is ON and active. The system is currently able to detect lane boundary lines on the left and right.

The lane departure warning is ON and active. The system is currently able to detect lane boundary lines on the left and right. As
the vehicle is in danger of leaving its lane to the right, a warning is
given.

Master control module
The master control module for the lane departure warning
system is the Driver Assistance Systems Control Module
J1121. Version A0 of J1121 is used for this function.

5

Adaptive cruise assist
Introduction
Adaptive cruise assist is a new driver assistance system,
which is offered for the first time in the 2019 Audi A8 as
optional equipment.

It combines three formerly independent systems - adaptive
cruise control, Audi active lane assist with "early" corrective
steering point and traffic jam assist - into a single driver
assistance system.

System configuration in the 2017 Q7 and 2017 A4/A5

Adaptive cruise control (ACC)

Audi active lane assist
"early" corrective steering point

Traffic jam assist

Adaptive cruise assist

System configuration in the 2019 Audi A8
668_017

With adaptive cruise assist, a combined longitudinal and
lateral control assistance function is available for the first
time at speeds between 0 and 155.3 mph (0 and 250
km/h). The term "longitudinal control" is generally understood to mean accelerating and braking the vehicle, while
the term "lateral control" is generally understood to mean
steering the vehicle. However, the driver's hands must stay
on the steering wheel while the lateral control function is
active.
With adaptive cruise assist, both longitudinal and lateral
control functions are available to the driver. However, the
driver can also deactivate the lateral control function so
that only the longitudinal control function stays active. This
means that vehicle behaves in much the same way as previously when driving with ACC. The longitudinal control
function in the Audi A8 is very similar to the 4th generation
ACC system used on the 2017 Audi Q7, 2017 A4 and 2017
A5. With adaptive cruise assist, it is not possible to deactivate the longitudinal control function while the lateral
control function is active.

6

Traffic jam assist provides lateral control at speeds of up to
37.2 mph (60 km/h) when a traffic jam situation is
detected. Audi active lane assist provides lateral control at
speeds of 40.3 mph (65 km/h) and higher. This means that
lateral control is interrupted when, for instance, a traffic
jam situation clears up. This interruption in lateral guidance
does not apply to the adaptive driver assistance system in
the Audi A8 since lateral guidance is the task of only one
assistance system and this system operates at speeds
between 0 and 155.3 mph (0 and 250 km/h).
Adaptive cruise assist is a driver assistance system, but the
driver is still fully responsible for operating the vehicle. The
driver's hands must stay on the steering wheel. The system
assists the driver, but it does not release the driver from his
responsibility. Adaptive cruise assist reduces the strain on
the driver and makes for more comfortable driving.