From mid-2018, BMW drivers in North America and Western Europe will be the first to benefit from the Here Safety Services Suite a cloud-based service that aggregates real-time sensor data from cars of various brands and combines it with precise location data. The geo-targeted information (for example about changes to the real-world road conditions) is then transmitted to the car presented through the head unit display or used to support automated safety functions. The suite also provides a foundation for Heres HD Live Map to update itself so it can provide an accurate representation of the road network in real time, supporting automated driving.
Digital real-time maps and location-based services form the basis for the mobility of tomorrow, said Dieter May, senior vice president of digital services and business models at BMW Group. In summer 2017, the BMW Group introduced the first stage of local hazard warning based on intelligent connectivity and car-to-car communications. We are delighted that the next stage will follow from mid-2018 and that BMW drivers will be the first to benefit from this enhanced service. All this data on local hazards, such as the scene of an accident or dangerous weather conditions, can be shared on an anonymous basis to warn drivers in good time and so further improve safety.
Heres Open Location Platform enables the anonymised transmission of data from onboard cameras, hazard and fog lights, emergency brakes and ESC. Here expects more than 10 million vehicles to be inputting live sensor data by 2019.
One part of the suite is Here Hazard Warnings, developed using algorithms and expertise from Here and BMW. It provides information about potential road hazards, incidents and extreme weather events, for example those that could lead to slippery roads or reduced visibility. Meanwhile, Here Road Signs provides information including permanent and dynamic speed limits.
It was also recently announced that Bosch and Continental are both taking 5% indirect ownership stakes in Here.
Among other things, the collaboration between Bosch and Here will explore how to use Boschs road signature information from radar and video sensors in the vehicle to enrich and update Boschs HD Live Map, to support autonomous driving.
A stated aim of the Continental collaboration is to build systems that make use of Here HD Live Map and cloud connectivity for new applications and refinements in vehicle automation and mobility services. This could include exploring how to improve the precision of electronic horizons; how to improve vehicle position on the road; and how the required information can be maintained and updated dynamically.
