Automotive Engineering - August 2024 - 25

COVER STORY
" The majority of major
automakers don't currently
have a software solution
for next-generation
asssisted and autonomous
driving systems. "
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz's groundbreaking Drive Pilot Level 3
autonomous driving system is available for the S-Class
and EQS Sedan. It allows drivers to disengage from
driving in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic under
40 mph (64 km/h) on approved freeways under
certain circumstances. The system uses advanced sensors
- including radar, lidar, ultrasound, and cameras
- to navigate and make decisions.
While active, Drive Pilot enables drivers to use incar
entertainment features on the central display.
However, drivers must remain alert and take control
when requested. Drive Pilot functions under the following
conditions:
* Clear lane markings on approved freeways
* Moderate to heavy traffic with speeds under 40 mph
* Daytime lighting and clear weather
* Driver visible by camera located above driver's display
* The car is not in a construction zone.
Drive Pilot relies on a high-definition 3D map of the
road and surroundings. It's currently certified for use
on major freeways in California and parts of Nevada.
NPS
At CES 2024, Neural Propulsion Systems (NPS) demonstrated
its ultra-resolution imaging radar software
for automotive vision sensing. The technology significantly
improves radar precision without expensive lidar
sensors or weather-related limitations.
NPS CEO Behrooz Rezvani likens the improvement
to enhancing automotive imaging from 20/20 to
better than 20/10 vision. The software enables existing
sensors to resolve to one-third of the radar
beam-width, creating a 10 times denser point cloud
and reducing false positives by over ten times, the
company said.
The demonstration compared performance using
Texas Instruments 77 GHz chipsets with and without
NPS technology. Former GM R&D vice president and
Waymo advisor Lawrence Burns noted that automakers
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
Mobileye claims its imaging radar has more detailed object detection
capabilities than traditional radar systems.
can use NPS to enhance safety, performance, and cost-effectiveness
of driver-assistance features using existing hardware.
NPS' algorithms are based on the Atomic Norm framework, rooted
in magnetic resonance imaging technology. The software can be deployed
on various sensing platforms and implemented on processors
with neural network capability. Advanced applications of NPS software
with wide aperture multi-band radar enable seeing through
physical barriers like shrubs, trees, and buildings - and even around
corners. The technology is poised to help automakers meet NHTSA's
proposed stricter standards for automatic emergency braking, aiming
to reduce pedestrian and bicycle fatalities on U.S. roads.
August 2024 25
Luminar uses real-time, lidar-based HD mapping in consumer vehicles to develop
its next-generation ADAS and autonomy technologies.
FROM TOP: LUMINAR: MOBILEYE
Automotive Engineering - August 2024

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