German car maker BMW has announced plans to introduce a couple of new technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The company will introduce an i3 prototype which has been equipped with an advanced 360-degree collision avoidance system. The system uses four laser scanners to determine its surrounding and identify obstacles. If the driver approaches on object – such as a wall or a column – too quickly, the system will automatically brake the car to prevent a collision. According to BMW, this will relieve the “burden” of driving in environments with poor visibility will making a “further contribution to enhanced safety and comfort.”
BMW will also introduce a fully-automated Remote Valet Parking Assistant system. The fully automated Remote Valet Parking Assistant in the BMW i3 research vehicle combines information from the laser scanners with the digital site plan of a building, for example a multi-storey car park. If the driver uses the Smartwatch to activate the fully-automated Remote Valet Parking Assistant, the system will steer the vehicle independently through the levels, while the driver has already got out of the car and is on his way to a business appointment. The fully automated Remote Valet Parking Assistant recognises the structural features of the car park and equally reliably steers round any obstacles that appear unexpectedly – such as incorrectly parked vehicles. Once the BMW i3 has arrived at the parking space, the vehicle locks itself and waits to be called by Smartwatch and voice command. The fully automated Remote Valet Parking Assistant then calculates the exact time until the driver arrives at the car park and starts up the BMW i3 so that it arrives at the car park exit at exactly the right time.