Automated
driving for personal passenger vehicles continues to be an important
advancement in the quest toward Zero Accidents. ZF is concentrating on Level 2+
semi-automated systems that deliver advanced safety and convenience functions –
and along with its partners has developed the most affordable Level 2+ system
in the industry. ZF’s coASSIST is the first step into the modular Level 2+
hardware and software suite and highlights ZF’s capabilities as the full system
supplier. From 2020, ZF will equip production vehicles with this new ZF system
for a major Asian Manufacturer.
ZF sees
so-called Level 2+ semi-automated driving systems as a pragmatic and feasible
approach to help enhance safety and comfort in passenger cars. By
combining an advanced sensor suite including cameras and radars with a central
electronic control unit, functions such as adaptive cruise control, traffic
sign recognition, lane change assist, lane keeping assist and traffic jam
support are enabled.
ZF’s coASSIST system offers drivers significant comfort and safety benefits at
a price well under $1,000 US dollars – while meeting projected Euro NCAP 2024
test protocols and delivering popular Level 2+ functions. It will be in
production with a major Asian manufacturer by the end of 2020 utilizing the
full ZF system including Mobileye’s EyeQ™. Following the initial start of
production, the system will also introduce ZF’s first launch of its Gen21
Medium-Range Radar.
“At ZF we
believe that Level 2+ systems that meet advanced safety test protocols and help
relieve the stress on the driving task will be the primary driver for personal
passenger vehicles in the near future and provide a platform to help identify,
and then test and validate for unusual global road scenarios,” said Christophe
Marnat, executive vice president for the ZF Electronics and Advanced Driver
Assist Systems division.
Making these systems affordable is also important as it enables more market
penetration and brings the system advantages to consumers more rapidly. This
will also help them to acclimate to semi-automated functions as the driver is
always in the loop.
ZF is the system integrator and offers a full range of L2+ systems including:
- ZF coASSIST – the cost-effective Level 2+ solution that helps meet Euro NCAP performance requirements while delivering the most popular Level 2+ ADAS functions utilizing Mobileye, an Intel Company, EyeQ ™ technology,
- ZF coDRIVE – extends the functionality of traffic jam and highway driving support. 360° surround camera perception and the processing capability of Mobileye’s EyeQ technology enable automated lane changes and automatic overtaking.
- ZF coPILOT is designed for advanced computing power and processing scalability from Level 2+ up to Level 4 and is jointly developed with NVIDIA. It offers functions like feet-free and hands-free operation, automated lane change and overtaking, automated garage parking and route learning and utilizes ZF’s ProAI controller.
“This full
suite of offerings is the most comprehensive in the industry and allows
customers to choose the right level of functionality to assist in driving
scenarios such as Highway driving, traffic jams in urban or highway situations,
driver initiated to automatic lane changes and automated parking assistance.
Following the launch of coASSIST this year ZF’s full range of Level 2+ systems
will be available in the following 1-3 years,” said Marnat.
