BMW, Mobileye and Here have come to an agreement to include Mobileye’s Road Experience Management (REM) technology in the automaker’s 2018 models to crowd source data for self driving cars.
Mobileye’s REM will collect data through an on-board camera-based advanced driver assist system (ADAS) technology. Data thus collected can support autonomous driving through next-generation high definition maps.
According to BMW, the agreement aims to promote the development of autonomous driving with a scope for industry collaboration. Data from BMW vehicles can be merged with data from other automakers.
This data will be used by Mobileye in its Global RoadBook (GLRB) which will help in updating HD maps with accurate localisation capabilities.
Mobileye’s EyeQ processors and software will process the data and identify valuable information from the collected data and the analysed data can be used as a dynamic layer to current and future navigation maps.
It can provide BMW customers access to real-time information on traffic density, potential road hazards, weather conditions, on-street parking, and other helpful information.
Autonomous vehicles will require HD maps that can identify and update changes in the environment with near real-time speed enabling very short ‘time to reflect reality’.
The job of creating HD maps has been given to mapping and location services provider, Here. Data will be anonymised and sent to Here to be added as inputs for its HD Live Map solution, which will support connected as well as autonomous vehicles.
BMW, Development Board of Management member Klaus Fröhlich said: “This announcement demonstrates that our partnership is rapidly bringing innovation to market to allow customers to benefit from the latest technology.
“At a strategic level, this announcement makes it clear how our cooperation with Mobileye leverages our investment stake in HERE. The data of future BMW vehicles will enrich the quality of maps and services for everyone.
“Furthermore, this represents a significant step towards introducing the BMW iNEXT with its features of highly automated driving in 2021 as well as creating a leading ecosystem around HERE’s Open Location Platform leveraged by swarm data from millions of vehicles across the world.”
Mobileye chairman and chief technology officer Amnon Shashua said: “We welcome the opportunity to take this next step in our relationship with BMW Group.
“Camera-based ADAS systems are already making the roads safer. Global RoadBook is an initiative to utilise data from these cameras to create the high-definition maps required to make the next generation of autonomous driving a reality, in an inclusive way which will create an industry standard.”
