Location data and mapping vendor HERE Technologies is using its live mapping technology for BMW Group’s hands-free driving in the U.S. and Canada.
The deal is part of a long-term collaboration effort for next generation mapping capabilities. The BMW 7 Series will be the first production vehicle to launch with SAE Level 2+ automated functionalities at a maximum speed of 80 mph.
The HERE HD Live Map technology will integrate into additional BMW models as the automated technology increases across vehicles, roadways and regions, BMW said.
How the maps work
The maps provide layers of data to support vehicles in perceiving what’s on the road and what lies ahead of it. The lane-level data serves as a redundant source of information for sensors on the vehicle that provide safety assurances for the system.
This includes information on road geometry, route profiles and traffic signs. This can be done on a global scale as well.
Along with the live HD maps, the BMW 7 Series will be the first to deploy HERE’s Predictive Routing. This is a cloud-based routing functionality that learns individual driving patterns for a personal driving experience.
The two companies will also equip the vehicles with real-time traffic across 70 countries for detailed information on traffic congestion with potential road hazards ahead, auto re-routing capabilities and more.
