ZF has announced the debut of ZF coPILOT, an intelligent advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) designed to enhance safety and driving comfort opportunities. Leveraging the power of AI and equipped with a comprehensive sensor set, vehicles using coPILOT can perform various automated driving functions, especially on freeways. In addition, ZF coPILOT can be operated with voice commands and is designed to recognize traffic conditions, sense vehicle handling and monitor the driver, helping to pre-empt hazardous situations through active control intervention, according to the company.
ZF coPILOT is powered by the ZF ProAI central computer and the NVIDIA DRIVE platform. It is designed for volume production and will be available starting in 2021.
Just three months after ZF and NVIDIA announced that ZF ProAI is the first system to run NVIDIA’s DRIVE software, ZF coPILOT will debut at the Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition. “The ZF coPILOT is equipped with artificial intelligence, a 360-degree sensor set, the powerful ZF ProAI central computer and NVIDIA’s DRIVE platform, thus offering driving and safety functions that surpass the performance of a regular Level 2 system for semi-automated driving. This enables us to achieve an improved quality in semi-automated driving,” said Torsten Gollewski, head of Autonomous Mobility Solutions at ZF.
The ZF coPILOT demonstration vehicle, which will be presented for the first time at Auto Shanghai, demonstrates the functional scope and relative comfort and safety benefits for drivers: The vehicle can perform specific driving maneuvers autonomously, for example entering and leaving highways under the appropriate conditions. For more relaxed highway driving, the ZF coPILOT combines an advanced cruise control with active steering assistance and lane-keeping assist. In addition, the ZF coPILOT can proactively change lanes, pass and merge. The system also can continuously analyze vehicle surroundings, recognizing pedestrians, oncoming traffic and intersections, according to the company.
The ZF coPILOT also is equipped with sensors and functions that monitor the driver and can trigger warnings in the event of potentially dangerous situations. In addition to intelligent route guidance including “MyRoute” – a map function that recognizes repeat routes – the ZF coPILOT also is equipped with voice recognition so the driver can conveniently enable, operate and disable driver-assistance functions via voice commands, if they wish to drive manually.
The ZF sensor set in the demonstration vehicle consists of a front radar, four corner radars and eight cameras. Two cameras are directed forward and one backward, two are integrated into each side mirror and one monitors the driver.
“We are convinced that an extended Level 2+ system like the ZF coPILOT is very attractive for manufacturers. Due to its wide range of functions, it offers consumers significant added value in terms of safety and driving comfort – and at a competitive price,” said Gollewski.
Watch the ZF coPILOT video here.
