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As the computer and the car merge, a new automotive world awaits

DIETER ZETSCHE The F 015 research vehicle envisages the autonomous driving future

VALET PARKING BMW has developed a system that will see the driver exit the car in a multistorey car park – going shopping or to a meeting – while the car autonomously finds a parking space. Once summoned by smart watch, the vehicle will pick up the driver

VALET PARKING BMW has developed a system that will see the driver exit the car in a multistory car park – going shopping or to a meeting – while the car autonomously finds a parking space. Once summoned by smart watch, the vehicle will pick up the driver

VALET PARKING BMW has developed a system that will see the driver exit the car in a multistory car park – going shopping or to a meeting – while the car autonomously finds a parking space. Once summoned by smart watch, the vehicle will pick up the driver

VALET PARKING BMW has developed a system that will see the driver exit the car in a multistory car park – going shopping or to a meeting – while the car autonomously finds a parking space. Once summoned by smart watch, the vehicle will pick up the driver

WHAT’S UP? Continental’s eHorizon provides a digital view of everything going on around the vehicle

27th February 2015

By: Irma Venter

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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More than a century following the invention of the automobile, the horseless carriage continues to evolve.

Following an array of developments over the years, such as power steering, run-flat tyres, turbo engines, windscreen wipers, air conditioning, radio and music systems, the car is ready to become a connected space – a fully functioning extension of our home and workplace – and even, with a push from some vehicle manufacturers, an autonomous entity driving passengers where they need to go, with little or no human input.

Despite the event being held mere days prior to the Detroit auto show, this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held in January, in Las Vegas, hosted ten vehicle manufacturers – a number creeping up steadily as the notion of the connected vehicle gains currency.

As Volkswagen CEO Professor Dr Martin Winterkorn states: “The inventions of the century, the car and the computer, are gradually converging. We need to design future mobility to be even more intelligent and networked.”

Most of the technology showcased at the CES was conceptual – and will be coming to the market in the next five to ten years. Some, however, could be available much sooner.

Swipe of Finger
Volkswagen this year showcased gesture control at the CES.

The German automaker presented the technology in the Golf R concept car, which it says is a completely switchless car.

Through a range of proximity sensors throughout the vehicle, as well as three display screens, it is, for example, possible to open and close the vehicle’s sunroof with the swipe of a hand near the roof. The driver can also open and close the windows, fold up the rearview mirrors, move the seats, and switch on the headlights with a mere gesture – no need to touch any physical object in the car.

For example, in the front passenger door of the vehicle, there is a proximity sensor that lights up with a window icon when your hand comes near it. Swiping up through the air will open the window, and swiping down will close it.

It is also possible to control all the elements of the Golf R through the display screens, if required.

Volkswagen also showcased wireless charging of electric vehicles, such as its e-Golf, to be available over “the medium term”, as opposed to cable-based charging.

In cable-based charging, it is necessary to use a separate charging cable to connect the car to an electrical outlet. However, with inductive charging, all the driver needs to do is park above what is known as a charging plate. As soon as the control and communications unit of the charging plate in the pavement has established communications with the vehicle, contactless energy transmission can begin by means of an electromagnetic field between two coils (one in the Golf and one in the parking space).

Beforehand, a power lift would move the charging plate, integrated into the parking space, into proximity with the underbody of the vehicle.

It should also be possible to see whether the vehicle is charged, or still charging, by looking at the exterior lights. For example, some lights on the vehicle can flash if the battery is still charging.

Park, I’ll Go to My Meeting
BMW showcased fully automated parking in multistorey car parks at the CES, through its Remote Valet Parking Assistant, installed in a BMW i3 research vehicle.

The system makes use of advanced laser scanners that record the environment and identify impediments, such as concrete columns.

The driver uses a smart watch to activate the parking system. He or she then exits the car to go to a meeting, for example, while the system independently moves the vehicle through the levels, searching for a parking space.

Once the BMW i3 has arrived at the parking space, the vehicle locks itself and waits to be called by the smart watch and voice command.

The fully automated Remote Valet Parking Assistant calculates the exact time to when the driver arrives at the car park, and starts up the vehicle so that it arrives at the exit at exactly the right time.

The German automaker also showcased new lighting innovations, including Laserlight technology, which gives the headlights on its new BMW i8 a range of 600 m – twice that of conventional headlights.

Controlling Your Car by Watch
Smart watches with different vehicle-related functionalities were high on the agenda at the CES. It seems a number of vehicle manufacturers are eager to tap into the emerging wearable technology market.

Hyundai showcased one such product, which should be available some time this year already.

Simply use you smart watch (very much like your smartphone), equipped with an app, to tell the app to find your car, and type in a passcode.

The watch will show a map and address of your vehicle, and navigate you there by means of Google Maps.

The app can also start the engine remotely, stop it, initiate the air conditioning, flash the lights, and lock and unlock the doors.

Inside the car, connectivity continues to grow in importance, with many car manufacturers seeking to use infotainment systems that mirror the driver’s Android or Apple smartphone.

Volkswagen is, for example, ensuring that Apple’s Siri can read and compile and transmit text messages to the driver.

New apps are also constantly under development.

Parkopedia, for example, is the world’s largest supplier of formal parking space information. It allows users to find available parking space, based on real-time information on availability, and parkades’ opening times and prices.

Data Gathering on the Go
Continental is best known for its tyres in South Africa, but the global group also supplies a number of components to vehicle manufacturers.

Continental showcased its dynamic electronic Horizon (or eHorizon) at CES 2015.

eHorizon provides a digital view of everything going on around the vehicle.

Continental, IBM and HERE worked together to create a digital map that offers live information about the weather, traffic or construction sites, for example, on the route ahead.

The information is gathered from a multitude of sources based on the principle of crowd- sourcing. eHorizon turns cars into moving sensors, which constantly exchange data on the road with the cloud.
Continental also showed off its curved OLED Touch Display screen.
While “displaying bold colours without background lighting”, the most striking feature about the screen is that the display is curved, which allows car manufacturers the design freedom to integrate the display into the centre console, and not feature it as some clunky rectangular object in an otherwise streamlined feature.

The Lounge That Drives Itself
“Anyone who focuses solely on the technology has not yet grasped how autonomous driving will change our society. The car is growing beyond its role as a mere means of transport and will ultimately become a mobile living space,” says Daimler chairperson and Mercedes-Benz Cars head Dr Dieter Zetsche.

Daimler believes the time for moving from self-propelled (automotive) to self-reliant (autonomous), stress-free driving is near.

The German manufacturer showcased its F 015 Luxury in Motion research vehicle, with its loungelike interior, at CES 2015.

The vehicle is equipped with sensors, radar and cameras so that it can drive itself to where its occupants want to travel.

Proportioned to give maximum space to its passengers, outside light fields will show the world if the vehicle is driving autonomously (blue), or if it is controlled manually (white).

Inside, the seating arrangement is such that all the occupants can turn to face each other – making use of the four rotating lounge chairs, covered in white nappa leather – while the vehicle drives them to where they want to be.

Should the ‘driver’ wish to take control of the vehicle, he or she can do so by swivelling around, where the steering wheel will automatically extend from the front.

The vehicle also has six display screens, “harmoniously integrated into the instrument panel and the rear and side panels, turning the inside of the vehicle into a digital arena”, says Daimler.

“Passengers can interact intuitively with the connected vehicle through gestures, eye-tracking or by touching the high-resolution screens.”

For example, the front display is largely operated by a combination of eye-tracking and gesture control. To initiate a control function, the user first looks at the desired element in the main display. As soon as the system has detected the user’s intention by means of eye tracking, hand movements are interpreted as control inputs, and it becomes possible to interact using gestures.

New materials and structures were used to develop the F 015’s smart body structure. By combining carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, aluminium and high-strength steels, lightweight engineering experts were able to make the bodyshell 40% lighter, compared with today’s production vehicles, states the German carmaker.

It is envisioned that the vehicle will be propelled by the integration of an electric drive system with a fuel cell.

Daimler says Mercedes-Benz has set its sights on realising the concept of autonomous driving worldwide.

In mid-September 2014, the company became one of the fist automotive manufacturers to be issued with an official licence by the US state of California for testing self-driving vehicles on public roads.

The company also makes use of the Concord Naval Weapons Station, in the US, for the further testing of the technology. The abandoned military site has a citylike road network extending over 8.5 km2, providing a realistic traffic environment.

And when will we see autonomous vehicles on public roads?

Daimler believes it won’t happen overnight. However, the company believes individual features of autonomous driving, such as fully automated parking and automatic driving on the highway, should be available before the end of 2020.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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