BMW says self-driving car to be level 5 capable by 2021

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

German carmaker BMW is on track to deliver a self-driving car by 2021, the company's senior vice president for Autonomous Driving, Elmar Frickenstein, said on Thursday.

"We are on the way to deliver a car in 2021 with level 3, 4 and 5," Frickenstein told a panel discussion in Berlin, explaining the vehicle will have different levels of autonomy, depending on how and where it is used.

A level 5 vehicle is capable of navigating roads without any driver input, while a level 3 car still needs a steering wheel and a driver who can take over if the car encounters a problem.

In July last year, BMW announced a partnership with Intel and Mobileye to develop self-driving by around 2021.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bm...-idUSKBN16N1Y2

The automaker has teamed with Intel and Mobileye to bring autonomous technology to market.
BMW has confirmed plans to launch a fully autonomous vehicle by 2021.

The company already announced plans to co-develop an autonomous drive system with Intel and Mobileye. The latest announcement clarifies that it will be a Level 5 system, representing the top echelon.

SAE defines Level 5 as capable of performing all driving tasks under all roadway and environmental conditions. Such vehicles have been conceptualized as mobile lounges, where the driver can kick back and watch a movie or chat with passengers -- with no need to monitor the road or remain ready to take the wheel in an instant if the autonomous system encounters a problem.

"We are on the way to deliver a car in 2021 with level 3, 4 and 5," said BMW's senior VP of autonomous driving, Elmar Frickenstein, as quoted by Reuters.

The comment suggests the vehicle will be equipped with human controls and will allow drivers to choose the level of autonomy for any given driving scenario.

The announcement follows Intel's move to acquire Mobileye for $15 billion. The chip maker views the autonomous vehicle market as a $70 billion opportunity in for vehicle systems and data services by 2030.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/bmw-prom...#ixzz4bYNhojwz

[Finnegan]

I have yet to understand the slightest modicum of why I'd ever want this. Or, assuming I did, why I'd decide to buy a BMW vs. a Cuisinart or a Maytag when it's nothing more than merely an appliance.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I have yet to understand the slightest modicum of why I'd ever want this. Or, assuming I did, why I'd decide to buy a BMW vs. a Cuisinart or a Maytag when it's nothing more than merely an appliance.

Autonomous tech is the future. The systems are able to help avoid accidents and take the stress off of the driver.

[SCCThree]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I have yet to understand the slightest modicum of why I'd ever want this. Or, assuming I did, why I'd decide to buy a BMW vs. a Cuisinart or a Maytag when it's nothing more than merely an appliance.

It is going to change things for sure. The ultimate driving machine will have to become something else. The ultimate shuttle machine perhaps?

I think all other factors we currently use when buying a car will still be there with the exception of the driving experience and performance. There will still be the options, luxury, ride, styling, cost of ownership, maintenance, efficiency, fuel/power, insurance, etc...

As much as I love to drive, after spending a few years in Europe and experiencing public transit, I really got used to just kicking back and waiting to arrive where I needed to go, it was nice. Upon return to the US, driving next to idiots in insane gridlocked traffic makes me miss public transit. While most of our cities wont have that level of public transit, I think this will fill that gap. I for one will be okay with giving up the wheel.

It's going to be very interesting to see what happens to the automotive landscape over the next 5-10 years. Interesting times...

[Speed-NYC]

Autominous is just an option for when driving is otherwise tedious. You will still want it to be a great car like a bimmer for the times you are in old timey manual mode. What will be interesting to see is if our kids choose never to drive using manual controls.

[insanecoder]

I buy a bimmer to rock and roll
not to allow some piece of killer software to enjoy that for me

[jeffc83]

As the story goes with Bimmer, if you want it, you'll pay for it so I will gladly decline this incredibly expensive option and will save my money for an M My best guess is at least 5000 out the door for the feature

[WhatsADSM]

It would be nice to have a car that your kids could use to go to their activities.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by jeffc83

As the story goes with Bimmer, if you want it, you'll pay for it so I will gladly decline this incredibly expensive option and will save my money for an M My best guess is at least 5000 out the door for the feature

There have been conflicting reports that the F90 M5 will get the host of autonomous tech of the 5 series.

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by Mo@BMWofFairfax

There have been conflicting reports that the F90 M5 will get the host of autonomous tech of the 5 series.

Surprising to hear; an automated M....never thought I'd live to see the day The tech "option" is great but this does happen to go against the ultimate driving machine slogan, lol. It'll now be the ultimate automated machine!

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by WhatsADSM

It would be nice to have a car that your kids could use to go to their activities.

That would be even better than having a personal chauffeur!

[clbmw]

Originally Posted by jeffc83

As the story goes with Bimmer, if you want it, you'll pay for it so I will gladly decline this incredibly expensive option and will save my money for an M My best guess is at least 5000 out the door for the feature

Exactly the second thought I had... awesome being the first. 5k is a very conservative estimate too I reckon :/

I love driving but I hate it when the motorway turns into a car park with numpties trying to squeeze in and out. Would love this feature

[Yeineken]

As someone who has a two hour commute, I welcome this technology.

It'll make the roads safer and allow people to multitask without killing a small family and ruining people's lives.

[Agni]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I have yet to understand the slightest modicum of why I'd ever want this. Or, assuming I did, why I'd decide to buy a BMW vs. a Cuisinart or a Maytag when it's nothing more than merely an appliance.

BMW couldn't care less about why or what you want. This tech is what the Market wants. The people on this board represent less than 1% of BMW buyers worldwide and thus your opinion is statistically insignificant.

[Eagle1oh7]

There's experience points???

[cbertels]

Every time I see this I think about cruise control. Specifically, how very little I use it even though much of my commute is on low traffic highways perfectly suited for it.

On the other hand, maybe self-driving cars are better than the texting-while-driving youths I've come to loath.

Maybe I'm just old.

[steve090619]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I have yet to understand the slightest modicum of why I'd ever want this. Or, assuming I did, why I'd decide to buy a BMW vs. a Cuisinart or a Maytag when it's nothing more than merely an appliance.

I don't know your age, but think about this. How many senior citzens and handicapped people have no license to drive. This will open up an entire market along with giving this class of people their freedom back. BMW will sell in masses to these people if it is ever legal to have a car drive you when you are not capable of driving. This has nothing to do with the Ultimate Driving Experience, this has to do with $$$$$$ and a whole new market of buyers.

[coolguy_y]

Originally Posted by steve090619

I don't know your age, but think about this. How many senior citzens and handicapped people have no license to drive. This will open up an entire market along with giving this class of people their freedom back. BMW will sell in masses to these people if it is ever legal to have a car drive you when you are not capable of driving. This has nothing to do with the Ultimate Driving Experience, this has to do with $$$$$$ and a whole new market of buyers.

Better yet, imagine a car you drive to a party, and after you are wasted, drives you back home safely and keeps others safe on the road.

Imagine an electrical car that drives you to the airport and returns back home safely and restores its charge. If the home is powered by renewal sources, your environmental footprint would be minimal. Now scale this to 6 billion people.

Imagine a car that avoids all the potholes on its own.

The possibilities are truly amazing ...

[Flying Ace]

oh I have no doubt in my mind car will be technically capable by 2021. The issue is, society, government and legal might not be ready.

[Law]

So by 2021, BMW's tagline will be
The Ultimate Riding Machine (North America)
Sheer Riding Pleasure (International)

I'm not talking about this kind of riding either



It's more akin to this kind of riding...

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by cbertels

Every time I see this I think about cruise control. Specifically, how very little I use it even though much of my commute is on low traffic highways perfectly suited for it.

On the other hand, maybe self-driving cars are better than the texting-while-driving youths I've come to loath.

Maybe I'm just old.

I find cruise control to be only minorly convenient for long drives, I rarely use it and can easily just keep my foot on the throttle and keep a relatively steady pace.

On the other hand, if I can recline my seat back and relax, sleep, etc. and let my car take over for the boring part of a long drive, deal with bumper to bumper traffic on my way to work, or to get my ass home when I've been drinking and would otherwise have to find alternative transport...then I see this as extremely useful. It should eventually even be possible to send the car home without you or to summon it from your home if you went someplace with others and now would like to go to a different place on your own.

I just hope manufacturers like BMW keep making cars that are fun to drive when we want and capable of driving themselves when we don't, rather than turning their cars into boring appliances that are focused solely on autonomous driving.

[Arcades]

I won't be surprised.

Technology is advancing at a very rapid pace at this point in time I'm sure something would happen.