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In January 2013, Continental and BMW signed an agreement to work together to create cars with automated driving. Cooperation is designed for two years. But now, companies are ready to demonstrate the first prototypes.
Hannover, counter
Continental has many years of experience in developing and manufacturing electronic driver assistants. This gives the company a certain competitive advantage. Its engineers only need to combine the already existing components of the autopilot: adaptive cruise control, row maintenance systems, marking control, monitoring of dead zones, detection of moving and stationary objects.
The first to introduce the technology of inter-vehicle communication into serial vehicles is the Daimler concern. On the "Mercedes" she will appear by the end of the year. Later, other global manufacturers will connect to communications via a single protocol
The first to introduce the technology of inter-vehicle communication into serial vehicles is the Daimler concern. On the "Mercedes" she will appear by the end of the year. Later, other global manufacturers will connect to communications via a single protocol. The first to introduce the technology of inter-vehicle communication into serial vehicles is the Daimler concern. On the "Mercedes" she will appear by the end of the year. Later, other global manufacturers will connect to communications via a single protocol.
The creators name the model shown in Hanover long and tedious: a car with a high degree of automation of driving. From here to a full-fledged autopilot, there is only one step to be taken. Independent driving on a free highway is a trivial task for today's electronics. There is no need to take control in traffic: the car itself stops and starts to move. A special pride of Continental is the passage of the repair work zone. The non-standard traffic pattern does not frighten the car, which focuses on neighbors in the stream, temporary marking and electronic tags. The stereo camera recognizes speed limits and even prohibits passage under the "brick". And this is not at all superfluous: changes in the movement pattern are not always reflected in the navigation memory, electronic intelligence can lead the car along an outdated route.
Continental specialists make their predictions regarding the timing of the appearance of cars with automatic driving
Continental specialists make their predictions regarding the timing of the appearance of cars with automatic driving. Continental specialists make their predictions regarding the timing of the appearance of cars with automatic driving.
The computer receives information about the surrounding reality from a dozen sensors, radars and cameras. Other cars and road infrastructure facilities will report on what is beyond their sight. Inter-vehicle communication is also on the verge of mass production. The Continental specialists shared details about this system during last year’s visit to the training ground (ЗР, 2012, No. 9).
The conditions for the demonstration were selected greenhouse. Nevertheless, in situations harmless to the experienced driver, for example, when the cyclist rides along the edge of the road or the car is rebuilt, the electronic mind twitches. And, say, the system is not able to slow down or shift gently within the band. She was well taught to ride on the highway, but to ordinary roads, especially in the city, she is not yet ready. As, however, and familiar to many motorists cruise control, created exclusively for suburban driving.
It’s not easy to distinguish a prototype of an automated BMW outwardly - this is exactly what the company sought
It’s not easy to distinguish a prototype of an automated BMW outwardly - this is exactly what the company sought. It’s not easy to distinguish a prototype of an automated BMW outwardly - this is exactly what the company sought.
Funny, the 1958 Chrysler pamphlet advertising the first production cruise control called it autopilot!
MUNICH, BMW POLYGON
The Bavarian company was also not yesterday puzzled by the idea of automation control. Over the elements of active cruise control - one of the fundamental components of the current "independent" cars - was experimented in the 1960s. But we, of course, are interested in the latest history: in 2009, the highly-automated BMW running gear made its debut on the … Nurburgring's “Northern Loop”. Yes, and in the role of the teacher of the racers: the car showed the pilots the ideal trajectory of cornering! Then the "track coach" went to California, on the "Lagoon Seca Raceway" highway, and proved that an automatically controlled car can be very fast.
The current capabilities of the road sign scanner are not suitable for autopilot. To drive without human intervention, the electronic eye must recognize all possible warnings and signs
The current capabilities of the road sign scanner are not suitable for autopilot. To drive without human intervention, the electronic eye must recognize all possible warnings and signs. The current capabilities of the road sign scanner are not suitable for autopilot. To drive without human intervention, the electronic eye must recognize all possible warnings and signs.
Two years later, in June 2011, an autobot was prepared for a suburban mission: in fully automatic mode, BMW covered 65 km from Munich to Ingolstadt at speeds of up to 130 km / h. And not only kept his line, but also made 32 rebuilding, automatically slowed down and accelerated. In total, in the suburbs of Munich since then about 10, 000 test kilometers have been wound. Therefore, at first I didn’t worry at all, getting ready to take the right back seat in the ConnectedDrive prototype, built on the basis of the 2013 Five model.
If it weren’t for the war paint on the sides, the robot on wheels could not be immediately distinguished from the usual serial sedan. But looking closely, I notice at least a dozen eyes from all sides, apart from the usual parking.
Electronic eyes today allow the car to drive independently on roads without marking
Electronic eyes today allow the car to drive independently on roads without marking. Electronic eyes today allow the car to drive independently on roads without marking.
A place at the wheel, naturally, is occupied by a BMW test engineer - only three prototypes were built, you can only guess about the cost price of each instance … An unusual tour begins: we taxi out of the parking in the “human” mode. On the autobahn, our driver activates the automatic mode by pressing a button and removes his hands from the steering wheel. Everything, she goes herself!
How does this work? There are two main tasks: the exact positioning of the machine in the strip and the recognition of objects and their speed. The first is GPS, ultra-precise maps and video data. The second is solved, firstly, by a 360-degree lidar - a device using active optical systems that receives and processes information about distant objects. Secondly, two light wave sensors that classify an object - a car, a bicycle, a pedestrian? Finally, ultrasound sensors are located on the sides, and the radars are scanned in front and behind.
Warn the distracted driver about the danger will also be advanced methods. The camera in the cabin will analyze where his gaze is directed and turn on the light signaling from the corresponding side
Warn the distracted driver about the danger will also be advanced methods. The camera in the cabin will analyze where his gaze is directed and turn on the light signaling from the corresponding side. Warn the distracted driver about the danger will also be advanced methods. The camera in the cabin will analyze where his gaze is directed and turn on the light signaling from the corresponding side.
Now, when at a speed of over a hundred our guide not only does not hold the steering wheel, but also puts all his attention on the auxiliary monitor, commenting on the technical broadcast of our trip, I feel at ease. The car, meanwhile, slows down when there is a scorcher in front of us - but it does not panic like me. And what will happen if a person or animal jumps out onto the road? Our guide evades the answer. It seems that in an emergency he will have to take control. An exit from the highway loomed ahead, and we again returned to manual mode.
Of course, in its current form, automation will never go into series. However, its individual components or abilities will certainly be used. So, BMW is developing an emergency stop system in case the driver loses consciousness. Electronics will immediately detect that the driver is disconnected, and will undertake several changes with a decrease in speed and subsequent stop, after which it will call rescue services. Agree, this is no longer a whim!
INTERFERENCE TO THE RIGHT
Today, BMW is ready to produce cars that can maneuver on the highway without driver intervention
Today, BMW is ready to produce cars that can maneuver on the highway without driver intervention. Today, BMW is ready to produce cars that can maneuver on the highway without driver intervention.
Perhaps, all the world's leading manufacturers of cars and electronic automotive components are now working on the fully automatic movement mode. Test samples successfully win kilometers at landfills, and some (in particular, Continental and Google) were allowed to enter public roads. Classes for the driver have already been invented: music, films, games on the built-in hard drive and Internet access. There are practically no technical barriers to turning the car into a highly developed robot. So what is in the way?
The main question: who will be to blame in the event of an accident? After all, the driver is formally removed from management, and the manufacturers obviously will not want to take the risks. All life situations in the test process are not foreseen. So, there is a possibility that the autopilot will fall into an unfamiliar situation and save. This is not about simply introducing a new system, but about global redistribution of responsibility for road incidents. Even with maximum automation, accidents will not completely disappear. And now, not a single auto concern is 100% responsible for their autopilot.
Here is such a set of optics, radio and light wave locators flaunts on the BMW Connect Drive windshield
Here is such a set of optics, radio and light wave locators flaunts on the BMW Connect Drive windshield. Here is such a set of optics, radio and light wave locators flaunts on the BMW Connect Drive windshield.
In addition, ground-based autopilot needs extensive infrastructure. Data exchange should occur at least between traffic participants and traffic lights. Repair and emergency services, roadbed and signs need their electronic tags. Add to this a fundamentally new requirements for the maps of the navigation system, the accuracy of positioning systems - and we get the amount of work that needs to be done to launch a truly effective and safe system. If the first autopilots will be available to customers in five years, then the creation of the entire complex will take at least ten, or even twenty. And this is in developed countries like Germany, the USA, Japan and with the active participation of many local auto giants.
A monitor is installed in the prototype’s cabin, on which the engineer monitors the reaction of the car’s “brains” to various traffic situations
A monitor is installed in the prototype’s cabin, on which the engineer monitors the reaction of the car’s “brains” to various traffic situations. A monitor is installed in the prototype’s cabin, on which the engineer monitors the reaction of the car’s “brains” to various traffic situations.
