Radar sensors work based on reflections from metallic objects which can overlap,
cancel, or interfere, causing the radar sensor to miss targets or see false targets.

•

Low light or low roadway-background contrast conditions can impact the
camera’s ability to recognize the forward vehicle and limit system braking
performance.

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Driving Through Curves:
When driving through curves, adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation
systems may detect vehicles in adjacent lanes. The system also may not recognize
forward vehicles as in-lane depending on the curvature and may react late to inlane objects within a curve.

Driving Through
a Curve or an Exit
Ramp

Offset Forward Vehicles:
Vehicles that are offset, or not completely in your vehicle’s lane of travel, may not be
detected or trigger a reaction by the vehicle’s collision mitigation system.

Other Vehicles
Partially Inside
Your Lane of
Travel

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In-lane Slow Vehicles:
When the detected forward vehicle makes a sharp turn – or your vehicle changes
lanes behind a slow, in-lane vehicle – the Bendix® Fusion™ system may perceive this
as an in-lane slow or stopped vehicle. The system may continue to track the vehicle
as the forward vehicle continues through the turn or your vehicle completes a lane
change, causing the Fusion system to possibly warn or brake.
The system may continue reacting as the forward vehicles turns off the original
road and onto the new road or as your vehicle has transitioned into the other lane.
The system will release when the forward vehicle is sufficiently out of the initial lane
and no longer considered a detected forward vehicle by the system.

Turning
Vehicles

Lane Changes
and Dynamic
Steering Input

High Differences in Speed:
The higher the difference in speed between your vehicle and the detected forward
vehicle, the less time the system has to react. High speed differences may potentially
cause little to no system alert or activation.
High-Speed Vehicle
I.e. 70 MPH (113 KPH)

Low-Speed Vehicle
I.e. 10 MPH (16 KPH)

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Stationary Vehicles and Objects:
•
Signs, bridges, or other sizeable, stationary metallic objects may be falsely
detected by collision mitigation systems. Although not very common and
usually not very long in duration, the system may, on occasion, activate a
false alert or possibly a momentary false braking event on these objects.
•
Objects that are not recognized as a forward vehicle may not trigger a
reaction by the system.
•
Objects that are offset in your vehicle's lane of travel may not trigger a
reaction by the system.

Stationary
Objects

False detection possible: a stationary object in the forward
detection path of the system around a bend may inadvertently
generate a system response.
Stationary
Vehicles

Stationary
Vehicle

May not be detected: irregular stationary objects or offset vehicles
may not be detected by the system and may, or may not, generate
a system response.
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Speed Limit Sign Detection:
The Bendix® Fusion™ system detects
roadway speed signs in order to alert
the driver and sometimes de-throttle
the vehicle when traveling over the
posted speed limit (Overspeed Alert and
Action). In some scenarios, the system
may detect the speed limit sign from a
parallel roadway and inadvertently alert
you.
In some other situations, the system
may not detect roadway speed signs.
In about the first five (5) minutes of
driving, the Fusion system will conduct
a calibration procedure in which the
system will not provide any overspeed
alert or de-throttling.

Weather Conditions:
Heavy precipitation – in particular, snow and ice build-up in front of a collision
mitigation radar sensor – may contribute to false detection of objects. This may, in
turn, lead to false alerts or nuisance braking events.
If the forward radar sensor becomes blocked and the Fusion system cannot reliably
detect forward objects, a radar sensor Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) may be set.

Snow/Ice Build-up
on the Collision
Mitigation Sensor

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Potential Causes of False Object Detection, Warning, and Braking
Potential Cause

Solution

Obstruction of radar sensor – deer
and moose guards, bumpers, etc.

Refer to Appendix A of the Bendix® Fusion™ Active Safety System
Service Data sheet (SD-61-4963) for radar sensor mounting
clearance. Ensure the guard/bumper does not interfere with
the radar sensor beam clearance area.

Obstruction of radar sensor or
camera – debris

Inspect the radar sensor or camera and remove any road
debris blocking the front of the radar sensor.

Obstruction of radar sensor – mud/
ice/snow accumulation in front of
the radar sensor or on a radar sensor
cover

Inspect the radar sensor and remove any mud, snow, or ice
build-up in front of the radar sensor or the cover.

Radar sensor misalignment

Refer to Appendix B of the Bendix Fusion Active Safety System
Service Data sheet (SD-61-4963) for radar sensor alignment.

If after becoming familiar with the contents of this document you still believe
the Bendix Fusion system is not performing properly, Bendix recommends the
following:
• Run the most current version of the Bendix® ACom® PRO™ Diagnostic Software
to determine if an active Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) exists with the system.
Correct the DTC(s) prior to placing the vehicle back in service.
• Verify the radar sensor is operating the latest software version. This can be
determined by using the ACom PRO Diagnostic Software or by contacting
your Bendix account manager. This radar sensor software helps reduce
sensitivity to road conditions that may cause a radar sensor blind condition.
• Fully understand when the braking occurred. It may be a challenging condition
for the system that may not be called out in this document. Driver education
may be required to fully understand how the system(s) operates.
NOTE: All radar-based systems are sensitive to conditions such as those
described within this document, and all radar sensor systems have limitations. It is
unlikely that full elimination of unwanted false-positive activations will be possible
with this generation of technology. There is no substitute for a skilled, alert driver
exercising safe driving techniques and proactive, comprehensive driver training.
Responsibility for the safe operation of the vehicle remains with the driver at all
times.
NOTE: The preceding section shows examples of situations and typical Bendix
Fusion system responses. However, the scenarios do not attempt to cover all
possible situations.

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Detected Forward Vehicles in a Curve
With cruise control set, when following a detected forward vehicle around a curve,
the Bendix® Fusion™ system’s Active Cruise with Braking (ACB) feature may delay
acceleration back to the set speed until one of the following events occur:
•

The system detects the forward vehicle;

•

The system determines that there is no longer a detected forward vehicle; or

•

A time gap has occurred (based on the last following distance recorded).
F or example: Assume cruise control is set at 50 mph (80 kph) and you are following
three (3) seconds behind a vehicle traveling at 45 mph (72 kph) that just entered
a sharp curve. If the forward vehicle is no longer detected as you travel around
the curve, the Bendix Fusion system will delay the vehicle acceleration back to
50 mph (80 kph).

It is also possible for the Fusion system to detect vehicles in other lanes when traveling
around curves. In cases where the Fusion system detects an adjacent-lane vehicle as
the forward vehicle, the system may intervene and begin making brake applications.
Curve Speed Control
In sharp curves, ACB may limit acceleration to prevent reducing following distance
with detected forward vehicles.

WHEN THE BENDIX® FUSION™ SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING
The performance of the Bendix® Fusion™
system may be diminished or disabled
when the radar sensor or camera
becomes blocked or has not detected a
forward vehicle for an extended period
of time.
Figure 22 shows examples of alerts that
will be issued on the integrated display
to warn you of this condition.
When the radar sensor is blocked, Active
Cruise with Braking (ACB), Autonomous
Emergency Braking (AEB), and Following
Distance Alert (FDA) features will not
function.
Figure 22 – Blocked Sensors
36

When the camera is blocked, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Highway Departure
Braking (HDB), Highway Departure Warning (HDW), Overspeed Alert and Action
(OAA), and Stationary Vehicle Braking (SVB) will not function.
If the Fusion system has detected a problem, depending on the vehicle manufacturer,
there will typically be a warning message on the display, a Diagnostic Trouble Code
(DTC) will be set, and you will be alerted.
NOTE: Dash display images are representative only and may not reflect the actual
vehicle display.
Speed Only Mode
In the case of blocked radar sensor or
detection of an issue with the radar
sensor, the system will determine
– depending on the type of issue
detected – if the vehicle may continue
to have normal cruise control functions
(without the benefits of the Bendix®
Fusion™ system), or if all cruise control
functions need to be disabled until the
vehicle is serviced. The system should
be serviced as soon as possible to
restore full Fusion system functionality.
Figure 23 – Speed Only Mode

Conventional engine cruise control may
be re-engaged by the driver when the
radar sensor is disabled. Camera-based features, such as Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) will remain.
NOTE: Dash display images are representative only and may not reflect the actual
vehicle display.

37

SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING
Preventive Maintenance
The Bendix® Fusion™ system is relatively maintenance-free. The key items to keep
the system functioning properly include:
•

eep the area in front of the radar sensor and camera lens clean and free of
K
obstructions.

•

isually inspect for any damage to the bumper or the Fusion cover, bracket, or
V
radar sensor to ensure the alignment has not been compromised. Never use the
radar sensor unit as a step.

•

Verify there are no active system Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs).
Equipment Maintenance
Importance of Antilock Braking System (ABS) Maintenance – Optimal
Bendix Fusion system braking requires a properly maintained ABS system,
without any active ABS DTCs. Have active DTCs repaired by a qualified
technician. Any ABS DTCs will cause the Fusion system to deactivate.
Importance of Brake Maintenance – Optimal Fusion system braking
requires properly maintained truck service brakes (drum, wide-drum, or
air disc), which meet appropriate safety standards and regulations. Brake
performance also requires the vehicle be equipped with properly sized
and inflated tires with a safe tread depth.
Radar Sensor Inspection – You should visually inspect the radar sensor and
mounting bracket regularly and remove any mud, snow, ice build-up, or
other obstructions. An alert may be issued when the radar sensor detects
it is blocked. After clearing any obstructions, you will need to turn the
vehicle off and then on to clear the DTC. The installation of aftermarket
deer guards, bumper guards, snow plows, or similar potential obstructions
is not recommended, and could impair the operation of the radar sensor.
Radar Sensor Damage / Tampering – In cases where the bumper and/or
radar sensor have sustained any damage, or if you suspect the radar sensor
has been tampered with, do not use the cruise control until the vehicle
has been repaired. In addition, an indicator on the display typically will
illuminate if the system detects any of these conditions. Consult your
vehicle’s Operator’s Manual or contact Bendix for more information.
Camera Inspection – The Bendix Fusion system camera is mounted to the
windshield of the vehicle. The camera will be mounted inside the wiper
pattern and should be clear of any obstructions. An alert may be issued
to the driver when the camera is blocked. After clearing any obstructions,
you will need to turn the vehicle off and then on to clear the DTC.
38

ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL NOTES
Adjusting the Alert Volume
The Bendix® Fusion™ system audible alerts are pre-set at the
factory for fully integrated systems and cannot be turned off
by you, the driver.
Event Capture
For vehicles configured to do so, you can manually activate data
and video capture by pushing and holding the Lane Departure
Warning (LDW) disable switch for six (6) seconds. This will Figure 24 – LDW,
indicate to the SafetyDirect® processor to capture and possibly HDW, and HDB
transmit 10 seconds of video and data (5 before and 5 after Disable Switch
button press). In some cases, more video data may be available
using the optional SafetyDirect web portal (subscription fee
applies).
Other Information
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Part 15: These devices comply with
Part 15 of the FCC rules with the limits for a Class B digital device and with RSS-210
of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) these
devices may not cause harmful interference; and (2) these devices must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Additional Information Sources for Bendix® Systems on Your Vehicle
Visit b2bendix.com for free downloads of the Service Data sheets listed below, or
to order paper copies of these publications from the Literature Center/Document
Library. Consult the vehicle manufacturer’s documentation.
Service Data Sheets
• SD-29-50022 Bendix® Fusion™ FLR-25™ Radar Sensor
• SD-64-20124 Bendix™ AutoVue® FLC-20™ Camera
• SD-13-4986 Bendix® EC-80™ ESP® Controllers

For additional support, visit bendix.com or contact the Bendix Tech team for direct
telephone technical support at 1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725), option 2, Monday
through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.

39

Acronyms and Definitions
ABS

Antilock Braking System

ACB

Active Cruise with Braking

ACC

Adaptive Cruise Control

Bendix® ACom® PRO™

Bendix diagnostic software

AEB

Autonomous Emergency Braking

ATC

Automatic Traction Control

CMS

Collision Mitigation System

Detected Forward Vehicle

The forward vehicle identified by the safety
system that can cause a system reaction (alert or
automatic braking).

DTC

Diagnostic Trouble Code

ESP

Electronic Stability Program

FDA

Following Distance Alert

Forward Vehicle

A car/truck/other vehicle in front of the host
vehicle.

HDB

Highway Departure Braking

HDW

Highway Departure Warning

IA

Impact Alert

LDW

Lane Departure Warning

LED

Light Emitting Diode

OAA

Overspeed Alert and Action

OBC

On-board Computer

SafetyDirect®
SVB
Your Vehicle/Host Vehicle

24/7/365 ACCESS
FULL SERVICE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Web portal
Stationary Vehicle Braking
The truck/tractor/specialty vehicle equipped with
the Bendix safety system.

1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725)
TECHTEAM@BENDIX.COM

WEB-BASED TRAINING
LOG ON AND LEARN FROM THE BEST

The trademarks used in this document, including Bendix®, are United States trademarks
owned by or licensed to Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC.
BW8203 Rev 002 © 2023 Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a member of Knorr-Bremse • 5/23 • F2.10 • All Rights Reserved
Printed on recycled paper

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