i-ACTIVSENSE

i-ACTIVSENSE is a collective term covering a series of advanced safety and driver support systems which make use of cameras and sensors. The systems consist of active safety and pre-crash safety systems.

These systems are designed to assist the driver in safer driving by reducing the load on the driver and helping to avert collisions or reduce their severity. However, because each system has its limitations, always drive carefully and do not rely solely on the systems.

i-ACTIVSENSE uses the following detection systems.

Vehicle front

1. Forward Sensing Camera (FSC)

   Refer to Forward Sensing Camera (FSC) (Search).

2. Front camera

   Refer to Front Camera/Side Cameras/Rear Camera (Search).

3. Side cameras

   Refer to Front Camera/Side Cameras/Rear Camera (Search).

4. Front side radar sensor

   Refer to Front Side Radar Sensor (Search).

5. Front radar sensor

   Refer to Front Radar Sensor (Search).

Vehicle rear

1. Rear camera

   Refer to Front Camera/Side Cameras/Rear Camera (Search).

2. Rear ultrasonic sensor

   Refer to Rear Ultrasonic Sensor (Search).

3. Rear side radar sensor

   Refer to Rear Side Radar Sensor (Search).

Inside of vehicle

1. Driver monitoring camera

   Refer to Driver Monitoring Camera (Search).

Your vehicle is equipped with a front radar sensor.

1. Front radar sensor

The following systems also use the front radar sensor.

• Distance & Speed Alert (DSA)

• Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go function (MRCC with Stop & Go function)

• Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)

• Smart Brake Support (SBS) forward drive detection

The front radar sensor functions by detecting the radio waves reflected off a vehicle ahead or an obstruction sent from the radar sensor.

 

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Heed the following precautions to assure correct operation of each system.

• Do not apply a sticker (including a transparent one) to the front radar sensor cover or replace the front radar sensor cover with a product other than a genuine product.

• The front radar sensor includes a function for detecting soiling of the radar sensor's front surface and informing the driver, however, depending on the conditions, it may require time to detect or it may not detect plastic shopping bags, ice or snow. If this occurs, the system may not operate correctly, therefore always keep the front radar sensor clean.

• If “Safety and Driver Support Systems Temporarily Disabled. Front Radar Obscured. Drive Safely” is displayed on the multi-information display of the instrument cluster, clean the area around the front radar sensor.

• Do not install a grille guard.

• If the front part of the vehicle has been damaged in a vehicle accident, the position of the front radar sensor may have moved. Stop the system immediately and always have the vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

• Do not use the front bumper to push other vehicles or obstructions such as when pulling out of a parking space. Otherwise, the front radar sensor could be hit and its position deviated.

• For repairs, replacement or paint work around the front radar sensor, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

• Always use tires for all wheels that are of the specified size, and the same manufacturer, brand, and tread pattern. In addition, do not use tires with significantly different wear patterns on the same vehicle as the system may not operate normally.

Close Caution

View Caution

 

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• If the lead-acid battery power is weak, the system may not operate correctly.

• When driving on roads with little traffic and few vehicles ahead or obstructions for the front radar sensor to detect, “Safety and Driver Support Systems Temporarily Disabled. Front Radar Obscured. Drive Safely” may be temporarily displayed, however, this does not indicate a problem.

• The radar sensors are regulated by the relevant radio wave laws of the country in which the vehicle is driven. If the vehicle is driven abroad, authorization from the country in which the vehicle is driven may be required.

Close Note

View Note

When the vehicle is driven on roads in which there is an elevated road on one side, the front radar sensor function may be restricted temporarily.

When any of the following conditions is met, the front radar sensor may not be able to detect vehicles ahead or obstructions correctly and each system may not operate normally.

• The rear surface of a vehicle ahead does not reflect radio waves effectively (such as an unloaded trailer, a vehicle with a loading platform covered by a soft top, a vehicle with a hard plastic liftgate, and a round-shaped vehicle).

• A vehicle ahead has limited areas that can reflect radio waves (such as a low profile vehicle).

• Under bad weather conditions (rain, fog, and snow).

• Front visibility is reduced (due to a vehicle ahead casting off water, snow, or sand).

• Foreign matter (ice, snow, or dirt) is on the surface of the front radar sensor cover.

• Your vehicle is tilted (such as when heavy luggage is in the luggage compartment or on the rear seat).

• The vehicle is driven near facilities or objects emitting strong radio waves.

When any of the following conditions is met, the front radar sensor may detect vehicles in the opposite lane or surrounding obstructions, or it may not be able to detect vehicles ahead or obstructions, and each system may not operate normally.

• The vehicle ahead enters the front radar sensor’s blind spot.

• The distance to the vehicle ahead is extremely close.

• The vehicle ahead is being driven in an unstable condition.

• A vehicle suddenly comes close such as by cutting into your lane.

• The vehicle is entering or exiting a curve.

• The vehicle is driven on a continuously curving road.

• The vehicle is driven on roads with repeated up and downslopes.

• The vehicle is driven on roads with narrow lanes.

• The vehicle is driven on poor roads or unpaved roads.

Your vehicle is equipped with rear ultrasonic sensor.

1. Rear ultrasonic sensor

The following systems also use the rear ultrasonic sensor.

• Smart brake support (SBS) reverse drive detection

The rear ultrasonic sensors function by emitting ultrasonic waves which are reflected off obstructions at the rear and the returning ultrasonic waves are picked up by the rear ultrasonic sensors.

Your vehicle is equipped with a front camera, side cameras, and a rear camera.

1. Side cameras

2. Front camera

3. Rear camera

Each camera is used by the following system.

• 360°View Monitor

The front camera, side cameras, and rear camera shoot images of the area surrounding the vehicle.

The adaptive front lighting system (AFS) automatically adjusts the headlight beams to the left or right in conjunction with the operation of the steering wheel after the headlights have been turned on and the vehicle speed is about 2 km/h (2 mph) or higher.

A system malfunction or operation conditions are indicated by a warning.

Refer to Exterior Light Warning Indication/Warning Light (Search).

 

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The Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) can be switched to on/off using the personalization function.

Refer to the Settings section in the Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.

Close Note

View Note

The BSM system notifies the driver of the presence of vehicles in adjacent lanes or at the rear of the vehicle using the BSM warning indicator light, the warning sound and the display indicator while the systems are operational.

BSM warning indicator lights

The BSM warning indicator lights are equipped on the left and right door mirrors. The warning indicator lights turn on when a vehicle approaching from the rear in an adjacent lane is detected.

When the power switch is switched ON, the warning indicator light turns on momentarily and then turns off after a few seconds.

Function for canceling illumination dimmer

If the BSM warning indicator lights turn on when the parking lights are turned on, the brightness of the BSM warning indicator lights is dimmed.

If the BSM warning indicator lights are difficult to see due to glare from surrounding brightness when traveling on snow-covered roads or under foggy conditions, press the dimmer cancellation button to cancel the dimmer and increase the brightness of BSM warning indicator lights when they turn on.

Refer to Dashboard Illumination (Search).

Display indicator

The detected approaching vehicle and warning are displayed in the multi-information display and active driving display.

Multi-information Display

Active Driving Display

The detected direction is displayed with a detection indicator (white) when an approaching vehicle is detected. In addition, if the turn signal lever is operated to signal a lane change while the vehicle is detected, the display changes the color (amber) of the warning indicator.

BSM warning beep

The BSM warning beep is activated simultaneously with the flashing of a BSM warning indicator light.

The RCTA system is designed to assist the driver in checking the area to the rear left and right sides of your vehicle while your vehicle is reversing by alerting the driver to the presence of vehicles approaching the rear of your vehicle.

The RCTA system detects vehicles approaching from the rear left and right sides of your vehicle and the rear of your vehicle while your vehicle is being reversed out of a parking space, and notifies the driver of possible danger using the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator lights and the warning buzzer.

1. Your vehicle

2. Detection areas

 

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Always check the surrounding area visually before actually putting the vehicle in reverse:

The system is only designed to assist you in checking for vehicles at the rear when putting the vehicle in reverse. Due to certain limitations with the operation of this system, the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator lights may not flash or it might be delayed even though a vehicle is behind your vehicle. Always make it your responsibility as a driver to check the rear.

Close Warning

View Warning

RCTA operation

1. The RCTA system operates when the selector lever is shifted to the reverse (R) position.

2. If there is the possibility of a collision with an approaching vehicle, the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator lights flashes and the warning beep is activated simultaneously.

   Rear view monitor (vehicles with Rear view monitor)

   The RCTA warning indication in the rearview monitor also synchronizes with the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator light on the door mirrors.

   360°view monitor (vehicles with 360°view monitor)

   The RCTA warning indication in the 360°view monitor also synchronizes with the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator light on the door mirrors.

Function for canceling illumination dimmer

If the BSM warning indicator lights turn on when the parking lights are turned on, the brightness of the BSM warning indicator lights is dimmed.

If the BSM warning indicator lights are difficult to see due to glare from surrounding brightness when traveling on snow-covered roads or under foggy conditions, press the dimmer cancellation button to cancel the dimmer and increase the brightness of BSM warning indicator lights when they turn on.

Refer to Dashboard Illumination (Search).

 

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• The system may operate under the following conditions even if a vehicle is not approaching.

  • An object that reflects the radio waves of the radar such as a parked vehicle, guardrail, or wall is directly next to your vehicle.

  • A vehicle approaching from the rear left and right side of your vehicle slows down.

  • A vehicle approaching from the rear left and right side of your vehicle makes a right or left turn directly in front of your vehicle.

  • A vehicle overtakes your vehicle while it is stopped.

  • Your vehicle is in an area where strong radio waves or electrical noise may occur such as near a television tower or power plant.

• In the following cases, the i-ACTIVSENSE warning indication/warning light turns on and operation of the system is stopped. If the i-ACTIVSENSE warning indication/warning light remains illuminated, have the vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.

  • Some problem with the system including the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator lights has occurred.

  • A large deviation in the installation position of a rear side radar sensor on the vehicle has occurred.

  • There is a large accumulation of snow or ice on the rear bumper near a rear side radar sensor.

  • Driving on snow-covered roads for long periods.

  • The temperature near the radar sensors becomes extremely hot due to driving for long periods on slopes during the summer.

  • The lead-acid battery voltage has decreased.

• Under the following conditions, the rear side radar sensor cannot detect approaching vehicles or it might be difficult to detect them, and the system may not operate normally.

  • The vehicle speed when reversing is about 15 km/h (9 mph) or faster.

  • The rear side radar sensor detection area is obstructed by a nearby wall or parked vehicle. (Reverse the vehicle to a position where the radar sensor detection area is no longer obstructed.)

    

    1. Your vehicle

        

  • A vehicle is approaching directly from the rear of your vehicle.

    

    1. Your vehicle

        

  • The vehicle is parked at an angle.

    

    1. Your vehicle

        

  • Directly after the RCTA system becomes operable using [Settings] in Mazda Connect.

  • Radio wave interference from a radar sensor equipped on a nearby parked vehicle.

• In the following cases, it may be difficult to view the illumination/flashing of the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator lights equipped on the door mirrors.

  • Snow or ice adheres to the door mirrors.

  • The front door glass is fogged or covered in snow, frost or dirt.

• Turn off the RCTA system while pulling a trailer or while an accessory such as a bicycle carrier is installed to the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise, the radio waves emitted by the radar will be blocked causing the system to not operate normally.

• The rear side radar sensor of the RCTA may be regulated under the radio wave related laws of the country where the vehicle is driven. If this system is used abroad, it may be necessary to turn off the system.

  Refer to Rear Side Radar Sensor (Search).

Close Note

View Note

While in headway control using the MRCC with Stop & Go function, your vehicle will stop when a vehicle ahead stops. When your vehicle is stopped and the stop hold control operates, the MRCC with Stop & Go function indicator light turns on.

 

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• The parking brake is automatically applied and the vehicle is held in its stopped position when 10 minutes or longer have passed since the stop hold control operated. When this occurs, the MRCC with Stop & Go function is temporarily canceled.

Close Note

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Resuming driving

While in stop hold control, if the vehicle ahead starts moving and the distance from the vehicle increases, the stop hold control will be canceled and your vehicle will resume driving by performing any of the following operations.

• Press the RES switch.

• Depress the accelerator pedal.

 

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If the vehicle ahead starts moving within three seconds after your vehicle is stopped, the headway control will continue even if you do not resume driving your vehicle.

Close Note

View Note

Resume driving information

If you do not resume driving within a few seconds after the vehicle ahead starts moving during stop hold control, the vehicle-ahead indication on the multi-information display flashes to urge you to resume driving. If you still do not resume driving after the indicator light flashes, a sound is activated to urge you to resume driving.

While in headway control using the Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), your vehicle will stop when a vehicle ahead stops. When the vehicle is stopped and the stop hold control operates, the TJA indicator light turns on.

 

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The parking brake is automatically applied and the vehicle is held in its stopped position when 10 minutes or longer have passed since the stop hold control operated. When this occurs, the TJA is temporarily canceled.

Close Note

View Note

Resuming driving

While in stop hold control, if the vehicle ahead starts moving and the distance from the vehicle increases, the stop hold control will be canceled and your vehicle will resume driving by performing any of the following operations.

• Press the RES switch.

• Depress the accelerator pedal.

 

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If the vehicle ahead starts moving within three seconds after your vehicle is stopped, the headway control will continue even if you do not resume driving your vehicle.

Close Note

View Note

Resume driving information

If you do not resume driving within a few seconds after the vehicle ahead starts moving during stop hold control, the vehicle-ahead indication on the multi-information display flashes to urge you to resume driving. If you still do not resume driving after the indicator light flashes, a sound is activated to urge you to resume driving.

The SBS is a system designed to detect target objects using sensors and cameras equipped on the vehicle, and to reduce damage in the event of a collision by operating the brake control if there is the possibility of your vehicle colliding with a target object.

One part of the SBS functions when you are driving forward and the other part functions when you are driving in reverse.

Refer to Forward drive detection (Search).

Refer to Reverse drive detection (Search).

There might be some margin of error between the road surface appearing on the screen and the actual road surface. A margin of error in the perceived distance could lead to an accident, therefore be aware of the following conditions which can more easily produce errors in the perceived distance.

The vehicle tilts due to weight of passengers and cargo.

If the vehicle is tilted, obstructions picked up by a camera can appear farther or closer than the actual distance from the vehicle.

Front camera

1. Obstruction

2. Margin of error

Side camera

1. Obstruction

2. Margin of error

Rear camera

1. Obstruction

2. Margin of error

There is a steep up or down grade in the road at the front or rear of the vehicle

If there is a steep up or down grade in the road at the front or rear of the vehicle, obstructions picked up by the camera can appear farther or closer than the actual distance from the vehicle.

Front camera

1. Appears further than actual distance

2. Distance of obstruction being viewed on screen

3. Actual distance of obstruction from vehicle

4. Actual obstruction

5. Obstruction appearing on screen

6. Appears closer than actual distance

Side camera

1. Appears further than actual distance

2. Distance of obstruction being viewed on screen

3. Actual distance of obstruction from vehicle

4. Actual obstruction

5. Obstruction appearing on screen

6. Appears closer than actual distance

Rear camera

1. Appears further than actual distance

2. Distance of obstruction being viewed on screen

3. Actual distance of obstruction from vehicle

4. Obstruction appearing on screen

5. Actual obstruction

6. Appears closer than actual distance

 

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If the vehicle is on a slope, obstructions taken by the camera can appear farther or closer than the actual distance from the vehicle.

Close Note

View Note

Three-dimensional object at vehicle front or rear

Because the vehicle front end guide lines (side camera) or the distance guide lines (rear camera) are displayed based on a flat surface, the distance to the three-dimensional object displayed on the screen is different from the actual distance.

Side camera

1. (Screen display)

2. (Actual condition)

Rear camera

1. (Screen display)

2. (Actual condition)

3. Sensed distance on screen A>B>C

4. Actual distance B>C=A