Level 3 highly automated driving, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel and temporarily divert their attention away from the road, will soon be available in the latest BMW 7-Series. Known as BMW Personal Pilot L3, this feature will be offered as a 6,000 euro (about RM30,000) option for certain variants of the flagship model – but only for customers in Germany.
The introduction of Level 3 functionality makes the BMW Group the first carmaker to offer both an advanced Level 2 driving function in its product portfolio where the hands can be taken off the steering wheel and positioned comfortably and a Level 3 system.
The BMW Highway Assistant already offers a Level 2 partially automated driving function in the latest 5-Series models. The package also includes a unique feature in the form of the Active Lane Change Assistant with eye confirmation. This function is primarily designed for use over long-distance journeys, allowing the driver to be more relaxed behind the wheel. When travelling at up to 130 km/h (81 mph), this additional function of the Steering and Lane Control Assistant can take control over the car’s speed, the distance to the vehicle in front and the car’s steering.
The crucial difference between Level 2 and Level 3 is that with Level 2 (partially automated driving), responsibility continues to lie with the driver at all times. The driver must watch what is happening on the road and be able to take over the task of driving again at all times. This is continuously monitored using an intelligent attentiveness camera.
With BMW Personal Pilot L3, the driver has the option of concentrating on other activities away from what is happening on the road, eg read e-mail, talk on the phone or even watch a video. BMW suggests that this will be ideal for making good use of time spent in slow-moving traffic or when travelling on congested roads during daily motorway commutes. The autonomous system is also effective in the dark.
Of importance is the live HD map with precise routes, permanently aligned with extremely accurate GPS location-finding and working with 360° sensors to ensure exact positioning and monitoring of the area around the vehicle.
The live HD map is constantly updated and this functionality is underpinned technologically by a new software stack, a powerful computing platform and a 5G link-up to the BMW Cloud. Besides the cameras, vehicles specified with the BMW Personal Pilot L3 are also fitted with latest-generation ultrasonic sensors and radar sensors and a highly sensitive 3D lidar sensor for monitoring the area around the vehicle and the situation on the road.