The topic we are going to talk about today is about autonomous driving technology. More accurately, it is from assisted driving to intelligent driving, and then to the ultimate goal, real automatic driving.
The protagonist of the topic was not particularly prominent in this field before, but the year of 202 1 should be its turning point.
Great Wall Motor and ibeo
In August 2020, Ibeo, Germany? Cars? System? GmbH announced that it has become the world's first supplier of solid-state laser radar for China automobile manufacturer Great Wall Motor, and its latest ibeoNEXT solid-state laser radar has been applied to WEY brand. Ibeo has entrusted ZF? Port Frederick? AG is responsible for the production of sensors and control units, while Great Wall Motor entrusts Mo Hao Zhixing Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Great Wall Motor Holdings, to develop L3 autopilot system. Liangdao Intelligent will provide testing and verification services for this mass production project.
This cooperation is not sudden. On 20 19, Ibeo signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Great Wall Motor. On July 13, the two parties signed a purchase contract and the project officially began to be delivered. Ibeo will provide a lidar system that can support L3 autopilot. The system consists of a new ibeoNEXT solid-state lidar, a control unit and target sensing software.
Ibeo's mandarin can show a lot of profound meaning. "The procurement contract of Great Wall Motor Lidar is one of the largest in its history. This cooperation is an important milestone of Ibeo and will further expand and consolidate its global leading position in the field of lidar."
Great Wall Motor has reached cooperation with internationally renowned companies in the field of autonomous driving, and both sides have consolidated their positions in related fields.
More importantly, in 20021year, WEY is likely to bring a production model with L3-level autopilot technology using solid-state radar, followed by L4 or even L5.
comparative advantage
In contrast, we can actually see examples of differences and future conclusions.
Although, in April, 2065438+2009, elon musk publicly stated: "Only a fool can use lidar. Now whoever relies on lidar is doomed to die! " However, the industry's understanding is still that solid-state radar is a difficulty that autonomous driving technology must overcome before the comprehensive innovation technology is launched. Ibeo has previously cooperated with Valeo to develop the world's first mass-produced automotive lidar SCALA, and now the ibeoNEXT used by WEY is the second solid-state lidar.
Below, we take several mainstream car companies as examples to see how the major car companies perform in the application of solid-state lidar.
Volkswagen has no information about using or planning to use solid-state lidar at present;
Toyota has no information about using or planning to use solid-state lidar at present;
Honda: There is no information about using or planning to use solid-state lidar at present;
Tesla: Tesla is currently using a camera+ultrasonic sensor+enhanced millimeter wave radar. Due to different algorithms and other reasons, Tesla will basically not consider lidar in the short term;
Audi: 20 17, new A8 unveiled. At that time, the new car was equipped with Valeo's solid-state lidar. Limited by technology and cost, this radar has not reached the technology of solid-state lidar. Since then, Audi's subsidiary has established a cooperative relationship with lidar startups to continue its autonomous driving business;
BMW: 2065438+In April 2008, Magna and its partner Innoviz Technology Company began to provide solid-state laser radar technology for several vehicle-mounted platforms of BMW Group, which was one of the first production contracts of solid-state laser radar series.
Judging from the information obtained at present, traditional "automobile giants" such as Volkswagen, Toyota and Honda have no plans to mass-produce or even use solid-state lidar, which is also the status quo of most automobile brands at present. At present, the car companies associated with solid-state lidar basically only exist in luxury brands, even in the flagship models of luxury brands.
Write it at the end
At present, the large-scale cooperation between Great Wall Motor and ibeo will undoubtedly further enhance the future strength of Great Wall Motor in the field of autonomous driving, and even become a core highlight of Great Wall Motor 202 1 entering the EU market. Whether it is the long-term development of Great Wall Motor in the future or the continuous improvement of WEY brand, the cooperation with ibeoNEXT is a big move of Great Wall Motor.
This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.