Bosch the On-board computer with artificial intelligence

2017

Key components of automation of driving

The automated driving noticeably influences all systems of the car: power unit, brake system, steering mechanism, meter panel, navigation and sensors. A key to success is deep understanding of all systems of the car. Very few people from suppliers of automotive industry around the world have the same knowledge in this area as Bosch. The supplier company of technologies and services independently makes the majority of the components necessary for the automated driving:

Bosch represents key components of automation of driving

Connected Horizon. The automated vehicles are based not only on the data obtained from sensors. Such vehicles require information in real time on traffic, traffic jams and road accident. It is possible to receive similar data only by connection of the car to the server. Developed the solution in the form of the Connected Horizon system for this purpose of Bosch. She provides the dynamic overview of a route and adapts under driving conditions. The Connected Horizon system allows the think cars beforehand. It increases comfort and traffic safety. For example, the car connected to the server knows about dangerous sections of the road which hide behind the forthcoming blind turn, and can reduce speed in advance.

Steering with the electric drive. A key technology of automatic driving is the steering device with the electric drive. Even in emergency operation drivers will be able to continue to use steering functions. A system will provide about 50% of electrogain of the steering drive. This technology will allow producers of cars to fulfill the requirements for safety of cars according to federal documents on policy in the field of the automated vehicles which were offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of motor transport.

ESP. This system also plays a key role in control automation. The automated driving imposes certain requirements to crucial security systems, such as brakes. To retain the maximum control over these functions at failures, standby duplicative systems as a precautionary measure should be provided. The electronic system of dynamic stabilization and the electromechanical amplifier of the brake drive on iBooster technology (see below) can independently perform braking of the car without intervention of the driver.

HMI. The automated driving changes the system of man-computer interaction and requires modern concepts of communication between the car and the driver. A system should be clear to the driver at the intuitive level. The innovation displays developed by Bosch company already allow it to propose some perspective solutions: in particular, the meter panel with the TFT display provides ample opportunities of data processing in combination with the fine image. Using the indicating system brought to a windshield, Bosch provides to the driver information on speed, hints on navigation and warnings directly in the field of his sight. This information is imposed on the environment around the car at virtual distance of visibility about two meters ahead of it.

iBooster. Using iBooster technology the Bosch company developed the electromechanical amplifier of brakes, independent of a vacuum, who meets the modern requirements of brake systems. It can be used for any types of power units and transmissions, and especially well is suitable for hybrids and electric vehicles. In iBooster movement of a pedal of a brake is registered the built-in sensor of the course of a pedal and is transferred to control block. The block originates a record for the electric motor which develops required brake effort. The effort created by iBooster will be transformed further to hydraulic pressure through a standard main brake cylinder.

Maps. The automated driving is impossible without relevant cards in high resolution. They supply the car with information on a situation on roads, for example, of a stopper or repair of the road which did not get to a field of observation of onboard sensors yet. In turn, radar and video sensors of Bosch on the car also fix and transfer to the server data on traffic in real time. Such technology allows to create suitable cards of high resolution for the systems of the automated driving.

Laser sensors. Except radar, video and ultrasonic sensors, Bosch also uses laser sensors in the automated test cars. Different methods of operation of sensors perfectly supplement each other. Data retrieveds are combined for ensuring reliable recognition of the environment. The automated vehicles use this information for development of the strategy of the movement. Bosch considers sensors important addition of the hi-tech portfolio.

Radar sensors. The basic principle of operation of the radar sensor is providing the automated vehicle with important information on a road situation at distance up to 250 m around the car. The main task of the radar sensor is detection of objects, their speeds and positions concerning the movement of the vehicle. Radar sensors of Bosch directionally send frequency-modulated radio waves to 76 and 77 GHz using transmitting antennas. These waves are reflected objects which are ahead of the car. Relative speed and distance to objects are measured using Doppler's effect and the delay caused by the frequency of changes between by the radiated and received signal. Comparison of amplitude and a phase of the measured radar signals allows to draw conclusions about object provision.

Ultrasonic sensor. Such type of sensors at the automated driving is necessary, first of all, for recognition of the nearby environment from distance to 6 meters and at small speeds, for example, during the parking. Ultrasonic sensors function by a method of the sonic depth finder which is used by bats. They issue short ultrasonic signals which are reflected from obstacles. The echo is registered sensors and is analyzed by the central control block.

Video sensor. Using three-dimensional technology of measurements the stereovideo camera of Bosch provides the important optical information on the environment at distance more than 50 meters. Both CMOS sensors of the stereovideo camera are equipped with the system of recognition of color and have resolution of 1280x960 megapixels that allows to process the image of very high definition. The distance between optical axises of two lenses makes 12 centimeters. The stereovideo camera will recognize objects in space and calculates a distance to them. Information obtained using the stereovideo camera is combined with data of other sensors for creation of model of the environment around the car.

Bosch и Daimler

The companies Bosch Daimler also jointly work on development of the system of management for pilotless vehicle. The companies created the alliance directed to system development for autonomous cars (SAE level 4) and the vehicles which are not requiring participation of the driver (SAE level 5). These innovations can become a reality prior to the beginning of the next decade.

Bosch and Daimler jointly work on a management system for the unmanned vehicle

The main objectives of developers is creation of the necessary software and algorithms for autonomous systems of driving. In work on this project comprehensive experience in the field of creation of vehicles of Daimler company – the world leader will be involved in production of cars of a premium class – and examination of Bosch company as largest world supplier of automobile auto parts. The technology ready to implementation in production in the shortest possible time should become a result of interaction.

The car itself comes to the driver

As envisioned by developers, system implementation of completely automated vehicles will allow to optimize city traffic and to increase traffic safety, and in the long term – will create a crucial element of the transport system of the future. In addition, the technology will increase attractiveness of service of exchange of cars. It will help people to optimize time which they spend in cars, and will open new opportunities for those who have no car driver license, having made this category of users of more mobile.

Main goal of the project is creation and preparation for implementation in production of such management system using which vehicles will be able to move on the city almost independently. The main idea is that the vehicle itself found and came to the driver, and not vice versa. To reserve service of exchange of cars or to call the city automated taxi, will be the normal smartphone enough.

Bosch и Nvidia

At the international Bosch Connected World 2017 conference in Berlin the supplier of technologies and services provided the built-in on-board computer for the automated vehicles. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the computer can apply methods of machine learning now. It is planned that the on-board computer with artificial intelligence will drive unmanned vehicles even in difficult and unforeseen road situations.

"We learn the car to maneuver independently on the road", - Dr. Folkmar Denner, the chairman of the board of Robert Bosch GmbH at the international conference on Internet of Things said. Machines already use sensors of Bosch for control of a situation. Using artificial intelligence interpretation of these data and the subsequent forecasting of behavior of other participants of traffic will become possible. "The automated driving does roads safer, and artificial intelligence - the key factor promoting it. We do cars "smart", - continues Bosch of SEO.

For creation of the computer on-board computer Bosch is going to cooperate with the American technology company Nvidia. Nvidia will deliver the chip on which the algorithms created by means of methods of machine learning are stored. It is expected that the built-in computer with AI will come to production no later than the beginning of the next decade.

The on-board computer with the system of artificial intelligence from Bosch will be able to distinguish pedestrians and cyclists. In addition to identification of objects, the artificial intelligence allows the automated transport easier to cope with assessment of the situation. So, machines which include signals at turn more likely will change a lane, than those which do not do it. As the result, unmanned vehicles with the system of artificial intelligence can distinguish and estimate a difficult road situation, for example, to consider a trajectory of the movement of the oncoming car which makes turn. The computer remembers all information on the movement of the car and saves it in an artificial neural network. Experts check these data regarding accuracy. After further testings on the road artificially created data structures can be transferred to any number of other built-in computers with the AI system.

1986: PROMETHEUS program

Bosch is engaged in development of systems of the automated driving since October, 1986 when the company took part in the PROMETHEUS program (Programme for European Traffic with Highest Efficiency and Unprecedented Safety) – the project on development of solutions for creation of a system of safe and effective traffic on the European roads. Besides, became Bosch the first producer which performed tests of the automated driving on public roads. Engineers of the company tested a system on A81 highways in Germany and I280 in the USA at the beginning of 2011, and then later, in 2016, – on the Central long-distance highway in Kanagava (Japan).

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