Skip to main content

Bosch takes first steps to autonomous driving

High-performance assistance systems, which control speed and the distance between vehicles, already help drivers reach their destinations safely and more comfortably. They also warn drivers of traffic jams and help them maneuver into even the tightest of parking spaces. Automotive technology and services supplier Bosch is set to expand its future range of driver assistance technology with systems will take on a growing role in guiding vehicles through traffic jams. More specifically, they will brake, accele
February 1, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
High-performance assistance systems, which control speed and the distance between vehicles, already help drivers reach their destinations safely and more comfortably. They also warn drivers of traffic jams and help them maneuver into even the tightest of parking spaces.

Automotive technology and services supplier 311 Bosch is set to expand its future range of driver assistance technology with systems will take on a growing role in guiding vehicles through traffic jams. More specifically, they will brake, accelerate, and steer completely autonomously. The traffic jam assistant will operate in most stop-and-go traffic situations, when the vehicle is moving at speeds between 0 and 50 kilometres per hour.

According to German motor club ADAC, the total length of tailbacks in Germany alone amounted to 405,000 kilometres in 2011. “The traffic jam assistant helps drivers arrive more relaxed at their destination, even in dense traffic,” says Gerhard Steiger, president of the Bosch Chassis Systems Control division.

The first generation of the traffic jam assistant is expected to enter series production in 2014. In the following years, the feature will be enhanced to cover ever-faster speeds and more complex driving situations. Eventually, the traffic jam assistant will serve as a highway pilot, making fully autonomous driving a reality.

Adaptive cruise control already tracks the vehicles ahead and adapts the distance and speed of the driver’s own vehicle accordingly.

Combining the Bosch electronic stability program (ESP) with the additional support of lane-detection cameras and electromechanical steering forms the technical basis for autonomous driving. High-performance software calculates the appropriate driving instructions for safer and less stressful driving. Automatic lane changing is the next step. It calls for two additional features; a rear-mounted radar sensor that also detects fast-approaching vehicles and a dynamic navigation map. Such maps, which operate via a mobile network connection, can keep drivers informed of current roadwork sites and local speed restrictions.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Cruise buys Voyage AV operation
    March 22, 2021
    General Motors-owned Cruise's investment allows Voyage to move beyond community transit
  • EastLink trials hands-free driving through its tunnels
    December 4, 2017
    EastLink (EL) has conducted a hands-free driving demonstration through its freeway tunnels using Honda Civic VTi-LX’s lane keep assist function. The trial, closed to traffic, aimed to help Victorian motorists understand the technology and other driver assistance functions after the Annual Victorian Self-Driving Survey revealed more than half of the 15,000 of the respondents had very little or no awareness of self-driving cars.
  • Jam ahead warning from TomTom
    September 5, 2013
    TomTom has released the latest version of TomTom Traffic which now includes an innovative ‘jam ahead warning’ feature, which pinpoints the precise location of a traffic jam and sends an early-warning alert so that drivers can safely reduce their speed. Available automatically to all existing users, TomTom Traffic also includes new features that further improve routing accuracy. TomTom Traffic now detects road closures and road works automatically on more roads. A new ‘predictive flow feed’ can more accu
  • In-car electronics and user demand for connectivity make case for automotive Ethernet
    January 22, 2014
    According to Frost and Sullivan, the use of Ethernet technology in automotive is gaining pace in Europe and North America. The paradigm shift towards connected cars and associated services such as automotive app stores and connected location-based services is fuelling the uptake. Along with the need to integrate multiple consumer electronic devices, the importance of offering prioritised, personalised services and maintaining brand identity are compelling automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) t