German carmaker BMW and automotive supplier Continental have collaborated to work on the development and introduction of freeway-grade highly automated driving system on European freeways.
In January 2013, both firms have signed an agreement to jointly develop an electronic co-pilot system, which can support highly automated driving, taking an important step towards making accident-free mobility a reality.
The joint project will run through 2014 and it is aimed at implementation of highly automated driving functions until 2020 and later.
Continental Executive Board chairman Dr. Elmar Degenhart said that automated driving is a key element in future mobility.
"It will significantly enhance safety, comfort and efficiency on the roads," Degenhart said.
"In collaboration with BMW Group, we will work out an overarching technical concept that enables highly automated freeway driving in a way that is safe, attractive, and affordable for end customers.
"The joint research project with BMW Group addresses the enormous need for the kind of R&D required to realize the vision of automated driving."
As part of the project, several prototype test vehicles capable of highly automated operation will be built and they will be tested by a select team of trained test participants to analyse automated driving functions on German freeways as well as in other European countries.
The tests involve all the challenges posed by freeways including interchanges, toll plazas and roadworks.
Both the firms have separately pursued autonomous driving: In 2011, a test vehicle developed by BMW had driven itself on a motorway between Munich and Nuremberg as well as clocked about 6,000 miles using LIght Detection and Ranging (LIDaR), radar and ultrasound sensors as well as cameras.
The test vehicles will be equipped with principal technologies including BMW tracktrainer and emergency stop assistant.
Continental is responsible for the provision of the driving environment sensor systems required to operate the test vehicles as well as develop a safety architecture for stable operation of prototypes even when malfunctions occur.
