Continental to focus on automated driving at IAA 2015

Technology corporation Continental is to present, at the IAA 2015 in Frankfurt (Hall 5.1, Booth A08), its fundamental building blocks on the road to automated driving.

“We are working on being able to offer affordable mobility, with three key aspects: zero road traffic accidents, clean air, and intelligent vehicles with added convenience,” said Dr Elmar Degenhart, chairman of the Continental Executive Board. Continental is one of the leading pioneers of connected and automated driving.

The key to zero accidents is assisted driving. Continental says automated driving will be accepted if people trust the technology. “Acceptance of automated driving will rise as confidence in the advanced driver assistance systems increases. It also depends on how we can ensure that drivers know what their car is planning to do next. Backed by electronics and software, the chauffeur button for automated driving provides an additional element of freedom in the car. This freedom can but does not have to be used. We will always leave it up to the driver to decide when to use our automated driving features. And if these features are switched off, our advanced driver assistance systems will still help to protect the driver. 

Politicians must clear the way for automated driving
“Our work makes us pioneers when it comes to fully automated driving. The technology for this is getting closer and closer to being ready for use on the road. This is why we welcome the establishment of digital test areas, such as those approved or planned in various German states. It is now high time for lawmakers to lay the legislative groundwork for the everyday use of automated driving," urged Degenhart. “After all, an important step when it comes to highly automated driving – on freeways, for example – is to establish a legal framework so that drivers no longer have to constantly monitor the situation on the road.”

Work is also underway at Continental on several autonomous – and thus driverless – driving features, particularly with a view to implementing convenient parking systems. The technology corporation will be showcasing its extremely practical Surround View camera system for this at the IAA.

THE SIX CHALLENGES OF AUTOMATED DRIVING
“We are developing the necessary components and systems for automated driving worldwide – in the U.S.A. as well as in Japan, China, and Germany. Our engineers are tackling six key challenges: sensor technology, cluster connectivity, human-machine dialog, system architecture, reliability, and the acceptance of automated driving," said Degenhart, describing the company's automated driving work packages.

Sensor technology: Zero accidents are no longer a utopia. Advanced driver assistance systems with sensors can record the area around the vehicle just as well as humans, if not better. Rear-view mirrors can be replaced by camera systems, which not only increase safety, but also reduce CO₂ emissions from cars and commercial vehicles. For the sensor fusion, and ultimately for evaluating the sensor data, Continental is researching the use of artificial intelligence.

At the IAA, the company will be presenting its new SportContact 6 tire that provides excellent grip at speeds of up to 350kph. “The high-tech SportContact 6 is just as innovative and essential as new state-of-the-art electronics. After all, it’s the tyres that transfer the car’s power intelligently on to the road and ensure reliable road-holding," said Degenhart.

“In the future, we will be installing sensors in the tyres, which will enable the car to detect the condition of the road’s surface. “Tyres will therefore become a key part of our sensor network in the car,” added Degenhart. “Continental is also working on a unique anticipatory driving system that will be able to learn.”

Cluster connectivity: The Internet will become the car's sixth sense. Continental is working on a powerful backend that will provide highly accurate traffic information. The basis for this will be the sensor data shared by road users coupled with the traffic backend computer. Sharing data increases the sensors’ range and enables the vehicle to ‘see around corners’.

Dialogue between human and machine: What is the strategy if the vehicle arrives at an exit to a freeway in fully automated mode and the driver is supposed to take control again? In its interactive 3D cinema, the company will be unveiling a cockpit for the interaction between vehicle and driver – an important answer to the question of control.

System architecture: Future system architectures for automated driving will have to securely manage the huge amount of data that is to be processed in the car. One gigabyte of sensor data per minute has to be processed in real time. Increasing sensor output and the resultant increase in the volume of data require a powerful and reliable electronics architecture.

Reliability: At present, advanced driver assistance systems function as a fallback for the driver. With automated driving, in the event of a malfunction, the vehicle must be able to continue safely on its way or to come to a controlled, safe stop. Specially configured brake systems are already being tested in fleets. Protection against attempts at manipulation must also be considered. Processes that will recognize such attempts and protect the vehicle systems are currently in development.

Acceptance: Automated driving will be accepted if people trust the technology. Trust evolves from the intelligent dialogue between the driver and the vehicle. The developers of today’s advanced driver assistance and driver information systems are taking this into account and laying the groundwork for the acceptance of tomorrow’s solutions.