From automakers, suppliers, and tech companies, it seems everyone wants to build a platform for autonomous cars. Now Magna is joining the fray by introducing its own self-driving system at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.
Dubbed MAX4, the platform enables Level 4 autonomous driving. Vehicles at this stage of autonomy can make key driving decisions without the help of a human driver. And unlike many other self-driving systems, MAX4 integrates LiDAR, cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and a computing platform into a vehicle’s body. That means no sensors adding bulk to the roof or taking up space inside the interior.
Magna says its platform is compatible with vehicle platforms from any automaker. It’s flexible, upgradable, and scalable for high-volume production, plus it requires less power compared to other solutions, the company claims.
“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,” said Magna Chief Technology Officer Swamy Kotagiri in a statement.
Drivers can control when they want to travel in autonomous or manual mode. With the push of a button, users can engage or disengage autonomous driving. Also much like a cruise control system, pressing the brake pedal also deactivates the feature.
There are plenty of players vying for attention in this space. As just one example, BMW, Intel, Mobileye, FCA, and Delphi have partnered up to develop a common autonomous platform the industry can use for self-driving cars. Google, and more recently its autonomous car spin-off Waymo, have worked for a long time on self-driving tech as have a host of automakers and even ride-sharing companies like Uber.
Watch the video to see MAX4 in action on a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Source: Magna, Reuters
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