Continental announced the results of testing for dynamic electronic horizon (eHorizon) in a series of demo vehicles. With its “dynamic eHorizon”, data is sent to the backend to verified and then sent back to the vehicle for highly precise mapping and road information. The system can be used for better use of energy for hybrid/electric vehicles, adaptive cruise control and augmented reality features.
The test vehicles are connected to Continental’s backend platform via a mobile radio module, allowing data exchange in both directions.
With its camera system the vehicle detects temporary speed limits at construction sites or variable speed limits. The up-to date speed limits are sent to the high definition map at the Continental Backend Platform. The speed limits can be displayed for following vehicles with dynamic eHorizon precisely.
The connected vehicles can send information from their own sensors and on-board systems to the cloud that improves updates the maps. Continental developers are using this “swarm” principle as a basis for numerous intelligent applications.
Cameras send data to the backend where the information is verified and aggregated. If the reliability of the information is confirmed, for example, by reports from multiple vehicles, the system can then update the map in the backend and transmit it to all connected vehicles in the affected area.
The high-resolution road map stored locally in the vehicle will be supplemented as required by sections of a HD map that is stored and continuously updated in the backend. The system therefore only ever transmits the map section that is directly relevant to the current whereabouts of the vehicle, keeping the transmission of mobile data traffic low but still always updating the vehicle with the most recent map data.
Continental’s new test vehicles based on mid-range vehicles allow the functions described to be demonstrated and tested in practice. The connection to the backend and the data analysis carried out there can also be put to the test using the demo vehicles.
The data from the eHorizon makes numerous vehicle functions possible or improves their performance. The eHorizon can also provide useful information to hybrid vehicles with at least a 48-volt system, allowing the drive system to be used as efficiently as possible. Fully electric vehicles can use the information from the eHorizon in order to precisely calculate their range in advance.
With eHorizon, vehicles with adaptive cruise control can adjust their speed for variable speed limits or curve radii, meaning that drivers only need to steer. The eHorizon also enables functions such as the Augmented Reality head-up display. The exact information on the road can be used to generate the augmentation effect and display for example the navigation arrow in the head-up display as if it was painted directly on the turning lane.