CES 2023: what it takes to drive hands-free

Sometimes, driving a car can feel like a full-body exercise — but this everyday workout is about to become a thing of the past. From parking to lane assistance, the latest technology is gradually taking over functions the driver once performed.

But moving from driving with a stick shift to a future where letting go of the steering wheel to send a text is no big deal is easier said than done.

"We are seeing higher levels of automation in passenger cars being introduced. SAE Level 2 Traffic jam pilots are a reality, supporting lane keeping and acceleration and braking," said Philip Hubertus, Director of Product Management at HERE.

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has defined the journey to full automation with six different levels but progress beyond Level 2 has slowed down for a variety of reasons, including the high complexity involved. For instance, the industry has to deal with the large R&D investment required, high onboard equipment costs, regulatory constraints and safety concerns for road acceptance.

As the automotive industry is introducing L2 or L3 automated driving, new systems are being developed that add safety and comfort features. Fresh map coverage is key to many functions of automated driving, such as localizing the vehicle and designating areas some vehicles are allowed to drive in, known as the operational design domain (ODD).

HERE is one of the world's first companies to provide high-definition maps for Level 2 and Level 3 automated vehicles in series production vehicles. One example is our recent collaboration with BMW to use HERE HD Live Map to drive more advanced automation.

HERE HD Live Map uses precise geometries and attributes to digitize real-world features such as lane markings, road boundaries and road furniture, arranging them into three distinct layers: HD Lane Model, HD Localization Model and Road Model.

With HERE HD Live Map, driving hands-free and eyes-off on interstates and freeways is possible, provided drivers remain ready to take back control when the automated driving feature requests it.

BMW Group uses HERE HD Live Map that helps enable hands-free driving in Canada and the United States, with selected countries in Western Europe expected to follow in 2023.

The new 7 Series is the first BMW series production vehicle to use HERE HD Live Map for a higher level of driver assistance and reach SAE Level 2 automated functionalities at a maximum speed of 85 mph (130 km/h). HERE also provides the BMW 7 Series with Predictive Routing and Real-Time Traffic information.

“A digital HD map is essential for highly automated driving. HERE HD Live Map is rich and reliable: it provides road geometry, route profile and traffic signs – all on a global scale," said Dr Nikolai Martin, Senior Vice President of Development Automated Driving at BMW Group.

As trust in automation increases and the necessary legal frameworks are implemented, we will see more vehicles equipped with automated driving features, supporting drivers while still allowing them to keep control.

“We have been working with HERE for many years to bring highly automated driving to market, and we are now thrilled to see the result of our collaboration finally come to life. Together, we are going one step further in delivering on our promise to provide a superior driving experience," added Dr Nikolai Martin.

Ultimately, the adoption of higher levels of automation is about providing greater comfort and safety. Not only is L3 automated driving expected to take off in countries with the right level of road infrastructure in place, but also in places where the private and public sector work together to pave the way forward.