- MAX4 can be integrated into any vehicle without compromise to
vehicle design and styling
- Platform can enable up to Level 4 autonomous driving in both
urban and highway environments
- Key focus on scalability and volume production readiness
BERLIN, Germany, Aug. 31,
2017 /CNW/ - The hurdles to reaching high levels of vehicle
autonomy might be in infrastructure and legislation, but not
necessarily in technology development. Today, Magna is proving
that by unveiling MAX4, a fully integrated, customizable and
scalable autonomous driving sensing and compute platform that can
enable up to Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities in both urban
and highway environments.
MAX4 combines cameras, RADAR, LiDAR and ultrasonic sensors with
a compute platform that are designed for easy integration with any
automakers' existing and future platforms—including hybrid and
electric vehicles. Additionally, Magna's compute platform, scalable
for high-volume production, is flexible, upgradeable and fully
functional with a fraction of power requirements as compared to
alternative solutions.
Magna has leveraged its full-vehicle expertise in its design of
MAX4 to overcome traditional obstacles in the development and
production of an autonomous driving platform.
Crucially, integration of MAX4 retains an automaker's existing
design and styling freedom for their vehicle, including not taking
up cargo space in the rear of the vehicle and personal space in the
main compartment.
"At the heart of this development is a desire to show the market
Magna's breadth of capabilities and an autonomous driving enabling
platform with subsystems that do not compromise the interior and
exterior of a vehicle," said Swamy
Kotagiri, Magna's Chief Technology Officer. "Our focus is on
developing production-ready solutions that offer flexibility to
integrate and the framework to enable Level 4 technology for when
the market is ready."
One of the targets for Magna was to simplify the way drivers
engage with autonomous driving systems including the option of an
intuitive and familiar cruise-control-like user interface that is
controlled through the press of a button. A lighted display
indicates the vehicle is in autonomous mode, and drivers can
disengage that mode via brake pedal or an emergency button.
Level 4 automation according to SAE International includes
vehicles that can perform all safety-critical functions for the
duration of a trip in a specified operational design domain with no
input from a driver, save for destination or navigation input. To
compare, most of the vehicles on the road today equipped with some
automation features are classified by SAE as Level 1 or Level 2,
requiring active monitoring by the driver.
Magna has been developing and manufacturing autonomous
technology features for automakers since the 2000s. Most recently
it showcased its Level 3 autonomous capability with a 300-mile test
drive which crossed an international border, in which the vehicle
drove autonomously for 92 percent of the trip.
Magna will demonstrate its autonomous enabling technologies at
the upcoming 2017 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany, Hall 8 booth D34.
TAGS
Autonomous, self-driving, autonomous drive
platform, sensors, level four, level 4, MAX4
ABOUT MAGNA
We are a leading global automotive supplier with 327 manufacturing
operations and 100 product development, engineering and sales
centres in 29 countries. We have over 161,000 employees focused on
delivering superior value to our customers through innovative
products and processes, and world class manufacturing. We have
complete vehicle engineering and contract manufacturing expertise,
as well as product capabilities which include body, chassis,
exterior, seating, powertrain, active driver assistance, vision,
closure and roof systems. We also have electronic and software
capabilities across many of these areas. Our common shares trade on
the Toronto Stock Exchange (MG) and the New York Stock Exchange
(MGA). For further information about Magna, visit our website at
www.magna.com.
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