In autonomous vehicle news today are ANSYS, BMW, Nullmax and Scania.
ANSYS & BMW Simulate AVs
ANSYS and BMW Group are creating the industry’s first holistic simulation tool chain for developing autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies. The simulation tool chain will enable highly automated and autonomous driving (AD) with the first vehicle launch expected in just two years. BMW Group is leveraging ANSYS’ broad pervasive engineering simulation solutions and experience to speed up the development of a safety-focused solution for the validation of AD systems.
The multi-year agreement drives the development of BMW Group’s Level 3 offering and Level 4-5 technology, delivering high/full automation for the highly anticipated BMW iNEXT, expected to launch in 2021. The new automated simulation tool chain will make efficient use of BMW´s large amount of sensor data through intelligent data analytics and the creation of scenarios according to statistical relevance and AD system sensitivity. The scenarios will include usual driving situations and corner cases to ensure maximum test coverage. Based on these scenarios, the tool chain will perform rigorous safety assessments of the AD systems in a high-performance virtual environment. ANSYS and BMW will support its adaptability and openness regarding relevant interfaces and validation approaches to accommodate and foster safety initiatives.
ANSYS will assume exclusive rights to the simulation tool chain technology for commercialization to a wider market.
Nullmax Debuts MAX
Nullmax, an autonomous driving technology company, officially launched an autonomous driving system solution “MAX”, setting about the large-scale commercialization of autonomous driving in the Chinese market.
The MAX solution is not only the first available systematic autonomous driving solution released by a local company but also one of the few complete autonomous driving solutions using the Xavier computing platform in China. It’s expected to be put into mass production around 2020.
In the next stage, Nullmax will provide MAX for Tier 1 and OEMs to facilitate the large-scale application of autonomous driving in China. It is predicted that mass production nomination of MAX will be made in 2019-2020, followed by the start of production (SOP) in 2021-2022 and continuous product optimization and upgrading in the next.
Scania’s News BEV Self-Driving Bus
Scania’s new battery electric self-driving urban concept vehicle is designed with the flexibility to shift from ferrying commuters to and from work in mornings and evenings, delivering goods during the day and collecting refuse at night.
In a bold display of innovation, Scania’s engineers have taken the company’s DNA – the modular system – to the next level in developing a concept vehicle that can change shape for varying urban assignments.
In NXT, the front and rear drive modules can be fitted to a bus body, a distribution truck body or a refuse collector. The bus module of this innovative concept vehicle is on display at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Stockholm, 10–12 June.
The eight-metre-long bus module is built as one composite unit, substantially reducing weight. The cylindrical cell batteries are placed under the floor, thereby utilising otherwise dead space as well as contributing to better weight distribution. With the low vehicle weight of less than eight tonnes, the range with present-day batteries is estimated at 245 kilometres.
FCA & Aurora
FCA US and Aurora announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding laying the groundwork for a powerful partnership to develop and deploy self-driving commercial vehicles.
The Aurora Driver is Aurora’s self-driving platform that comprises the hardware, software, and data services that guide vehicles powered by it safely through the world. Delivering level 4 autonomy, Aurora Driver is composed of technology that is able to sense and navigate the environment without human intervention.
Through this proposed partnership, FCA and Aurora would integrate the Aurora Driver into FCA commercial vehicle lines. This would allow for a variety of customized solutions for commercial vehicle customers at a time when changing lifestyles and online shopping patterns are creating logistical opportunities.