[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW and Continental to Co-Develop Automated Driving Technology

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Heading for Europe's motorways in a highly automated BMW. BMW Group and Continental team up on next step towards highly automated driving.

26.02.2013

Munich/Hanover. The BMW Group and the international automotive supplier Continental are stepping up their collaboration in the field of driver assistance systems. In January, the two companies signed an agreement to jointly develop an electronic co-pilot system capable of supporting highly automated driving. The main goal of the research partnership is to have highly automated driving functions ready for implementation until 2020 and thereafter. At the social, political, economic and scientific level, a clear vision has now emerged for road safety – in the form of “Vision Zero (Accident-Free Mobility)” and “Safety for All”. The research project on highly automated driving will aim to implement this vision and to take a major step towards making accident-free mobility a reality. In addition to the safety aspect, the researchers also see opportunities for significantly improved convenience and efficiency. “With our vision of highly automated driving, we are already developing the technologies and methodologies for a range of cutting-edge driver assistance systems. Partially automated driving functions of the near future, like the Traffic Jam Assistant, will mark an important step on the road to highly automated driving,” says Dr. Christoph Grote, Head of BMW Group Research and Technology.

Both companies agree that highly automated driving will play a major part in ensuring sustainable personal mobility in future.

The goal: highly automated driving on European motorways.

The joint project between the BMW Group and Continental is scheduled to run from early 2013 to the end of 2014. Over this two-year timeline, a number of prototypes capable of highly automated operation on motorways will be developed. They will then be handed over to a selected group of trained test participants for pilot-testing of their near-production highly automated driving functions. The tests, which will take place on German and European motorways, will take into account all the typical challenges, such as motorway intersections, toll stations, roadworks and national borders.

To help the system progress from vision to reality, a number of teams from both companies will address a range of technical challenges, since only with a complete command of the necessary technology will it also be possible to develop a legal framework for automated driving.

Many years’ experience in highly automated driving.

Over the last ten years, the BMW Group has already made important strides towards the development of highly automated driving functions.

In mid-2011, a BMW Group Research and Technology test vehicle underwent a public road test on the A9 motorway between Munich and Nuremberg – with no driver intervention. This research prototype, which is still undergoing continuous improvement, braked, accelerated and overtook other vehicles entirely autonomously, while at the same time always adapting to the current traffic situation and adhering to traffic rules. In the meantime, approximately 10,000 test kilometres have been clocked up with this prototype. If this highly automated research vehicle is to operate smoothly and adaptively in traffic, its operating strategies must be clearly defined. These strategies are derived from two main components – accurate positioning of the vehicle in its traffic lane and robust recognition of all vehicles and objects in the vehicle’s immediate environment. The sensing is performed by a fusion of diverse and complementary sensor technologies including all-round lidar, radar, ultrasound and camera scanning. Despite this 360° sensing capability, there is little on the outside to tell this vehicle apart from a standard model.

The principal technologies required for highly automated driving were developed by the BMW Group Research and Technology engineers in the precursor research projects BMW TrackTrainer and Emergency Stop Assistant. Based on a fusion of highly accurate digital map, GPS and video data, the BMW TrackTrainer can navigate vehicles round racing circuits fully autonomously, following the ideal “racing line”. On 21 October 2009, the system was used to automatically guide a vehicle round the Nürburgring North Loop. And on 25 May 2011, when the BMW TrackTrainer came to the USA, a demonstration on the Laguna Seca Raceway in California showed that highly automated vehicles can deliver impressive performance.

If a medical emergency is identified in the vehicle, for example if biosensors detect that the driver is having a heart attack, the BMW Emergency Stop Assistant is able to switch to highly automated driving mode and bring the vehicle safely to a stop. The system activates the hazard warning lights and, taking into account the traffic situation, manoeuvres the vehicle in a safe and controlled way to a standstill on the nearside shoulder. At the same time an emergency call is automatically sent out via BMW eCall to request medical assistance and notify the traffic authorities. This ensures the emergency response effort is both efficient and appropriate.

[Dackelone]

Its funny I have already seen these prototypes being driven in and around Munich.

[RCE]

Mercedes already have that system and would be available in the new S Class.

[MSPORTWORLD]

Yes! I believe in this. Before they take away our guns they should first take away out right to drive. Way too many stupid people out there on the road.

This will save everyone time and reduce carbon emissions and increase safety.

[Kramzz335i]

Originally Posted by RCE

Mercedes already have that system and would be available in the new S Class.

There is no possible way that MB is putting this into their vehicles just yet. The technology is there, but what about the safety features...

[Dreamy BMW]

There taking the fun away! What's the point of having a nice BMW that drives itself!! 😳

[Karazy]

:

[Fraggy]

This is got to be the stupidest thing I've ever seen. What's the point of the "ultimate driving machine" if the fucking thing drives itself. Might as will take the fucking bus.

[John Tanglewood]

Ultimate RIDING Machine

[AcutypeS]

Its going to be an option that you can turn off when you want to drive yourself, I'm sure.

[F80M]

Awesome. No more DUI...

[strati1]

Originally Posted by John Tanglewood

Ultimate RIDING Machine

Ultimate sitting machine

[Rock M4]

As a traffic engineer and a driver, I'm not really enthusiastic with this type of technology. We are giving too much assistance to the drivers, so they will forget all the fundamentals of driving... and at the end they will lose all their reflexes and how to drive safely without counting on technology...and what will happen when technology fails...and we know that it will...”Sorry for the accident...my blind spot detector didn’t tell me that you were on my left...”...”Sorry, my Dynamic cruise control didn’t break my car at time...”

[Eichler1]

Originally Posted by Jason

Attachment 824845Heading for Europe's motorways in a highly automated BMW. BMW Group and Continental team up on next step towards highly automated driving.

26.02.2013

Munich/Hanover. The BMW Group and the international automotive supplier Continental are stepping up their collaboration in the field of driver assistance systems. In January, the two companies signed an agreement to jointly develop an electronic co-pilot system capable of supporting highly automated driving. The main goal of the research partnership is to have highly automated driving functions ready for implementation until 2020 and thereafter. At the social, political, economic and scientific level, a clear vision has now emerged for road safety – in the form of “Vision Zero (Accident-Free Mobility)” and “Safety for All”. The research project on highly automated driving will aim to implement this vision and to take a major step towards making accident-free mobility a reality. In addition to the safety aspect, the researchers also see opportunities for significantly improved convenience and efficiency. “With our vision of highly automated driving, we are already developing the technologies and methodologies for a range of cutting-edge driver assistance systems. Partially automated driving functions of the near future, like the Traffic Jam Assistant, will mark an important step on the road to highly automated driving,” says Dr. Christoph Grote, Head of BMW Group Research and Technology.

Both companies agree that highly automated driving will play a major part in ensuring sustainable personal mobility in future.

Attachment 824846

The goal: highly automated driving on European motorways.

The joint project between the BMW Group and Continental is scheduled to run from early 2013 to the end of 2014. Over this two-year timeline, a number of prototypes capable of highly automated operation on motorways will be developed. They will then be handed over to a selected group of trained test participants for pilot-testing of their near-production highly automated driving functions. The tests, which will take place on German and European motorways, will take into account all the typical challenges, such as motorway intersections, toll stations, roadworks and national borders.

To help the system progress from vision to reality, a number of teams from both companies will address a range of technical challenges, since only with a complete command of the necessary technology will it also be possible to develop a legal framework for automated driving.

Attachment 824847

Many years’ experience in highly automated driving.

Over the last ten years, the BMW Group has already made important strides towards the development of highly automated driving functions.

In mid-2011, a BMW Group Research and Technology test vehicle underwent a public road test on the A9 motorway between Munich and Nuremberg – with no driver intervention. This research prototype, which is still undergoing continuous improvement, braked, accelerated and overtook other vehicles entirely autonomously, while at the same time always adapting to the current traffic situation and adhering to traffic rules. In the meantime, approximately 10,000 test kilometres have been clocked up with this prototype. If this highly automated research vehicle is to operate smoothly and adaptively in traffic, its operating strategies must be clearly defined. These strategies are derived from two main components – accurate positioning of the vehicle in its traffic lane and robust recognition of all vehicles and objects in the vehicle’s immediate environment. The sensing is performed by a fusion of diverse and complementary sensor technologies including all-round lidar, radar, ultrasound and camera scanning. Despite this 360 sensing capability, there is little on the outside to tell this vehicle apart from a standard model.

The principal technologies required for highly automated driving were developed by the BMW Group Research and Technology engineers in the precursor research projects BMW TrackTrainer and Emergency Stop Assistant. Based on a fusion of highly accurate digital map, GPS and video data, the BMW TrackTrainer can navigate vehicles round racing circuits fully autonomously, following the ideal “racing line”. On 21 October 2009, the system was used to automatically guide a vehicle round the Nrburgring North Loop. And on 25 May 2011, when the BMW TrackTrainer came to the USA, a demonstration on the Laguna Seca Raceway in California showed that highly automated vehicles can deliver impressive performance.

If a medical emergency is identified in the vehicle, for example if biosensors detect that the driver is having a heart attack, the BMW Emergency Stop Assistant is able to switch to highly automated driving mode and bring the vehicle safely to a stop. The system activates the hazard warning lights and, taking into account the traffic situation, manoeuvres the vehicle in a safe and controlled way to a standstill on the nearside shoulder. At the same time an emergency call is automatically sent out via BMW eCall to request medical assistance and notify the traffic authorities. This ensures the emergency response effort is both efficient and appropriate.

Attachment 824845

Attachment 824846

Attachment 824847

Attachment 824848

Attachment 824849

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Attachment 824851

Why is the company that bills itself as the maker of the ultimate driving machine working to hasten the day when we don't get to drive any more? I guess BMW will have to change its slogan to "the ultimate driverless machine."

Am I alone in missing the 20th century, when cars were real machines rather than computer chips with wheels?

Those among us who've struggled to get junky PCs with Microsoft software to work right know what we are headed for.

Now, if someone would just hurry up and invent a time machine...

[bgqkeneg]

This will save everyone time and reduce carbon emissions and increase safety.

[Who?]

Would love this, not sure why everyone is against this kind of thing

its not like their taking away the ability to drive altogether is it?

What scares me is how the automated drive will react in uncertain/critical situations, where human instinct/reflexes prevail..

[Majdnoon]

Hell no. BMW is all about DRIVING. Let Mercedes, Lexus, Land Rover and those other lazy brands develop this type of technology. BMW needs to focus on making driver's cars, like it's supposed to.

[Dmacc]

Originally Posted by 91Octane

Awesome. No more DUI...

I was thinking the same thing

[Crulexis]

I think this is just another way BMW is trying to stand out and be innovative in a new field. Just to show that they can do it...

It's a technologically impressive achievement, nothing more.

[Crulexis]

Maybe it will be useful in the future if you are intoxicated. Breathalyzer positive? Ok BMW drive me home.

[tmvqpbvu]

This will save everyone time and reduce carbon emissions and increase safety.

[dboucher30]

Please wait, system processing..... CRASH!! Dammit