BMW Self Driving Car: Carmaker Shows Off Hands-Free Car On Autobahn (VIDEO)

Forget cruise control. Now, a newly released video shows what a completely hands-free driving experience might look like.

Based on BMW's ConnectedDrive Connect (CDC) system, the footage shows a BMW 5 series model driving along Germany's Autobahn.

With the car in CDC "real-time mode," the human driver is able to keep his hands off the wheel as the car maneuvers along the busy freeway.

Not only can the car drive itself, but it also looks no different than its non-CDC equipped counterparts thanks to the scanners, sensors, radars and cameras being built right into body, notes JoonBug.com.

As long as the roads are previously mapped by the automaker, the BMW can operate autonomously, explains Geekologie.

"Our main challenge was to develop algorithms that can handle entirely new situations. In principle, the system works on all freeways that we have mapped out beforehand with [a] centimeter accuracy," Nico Kaempchen, project manager of Highly Automated Driving at BMW Group Research and Technology says in the video.

BMW first announced plans to invent a self-driving car last August.

If the thought of a self-driving car appeals to you, don't get too excited. PhysOrg.com says the German carmaker likely won't release its autonomous car for another 10 to 15 years.

In the meantime, take a glimpse into the future by watching this incredible demo video.

Comments

[iisd]

04:06 AM on 01/30/2012

What a joke. Driving on the Autobahn is really no challenge. Its always pretty much straight and when driving at normal speeds, it is boring as hell, which explains so many accidents because of people falling asleep behind the wheel.

If it works in the City of München or Frankfurt, then I am impressed.

[ontariogirl]

03:02 PM on 01/29/2012

When the car can fix me dinner and a margarita call me. :)

[RobJames]

04:52 AM on 01/29/2012

The question is will it have the ability to give the guy that just cut you off the one finger salute? If so, I'm sold.

[VolatorVentum]

11:42 PM on 01/28/2012

I like Google's better. Instead of using algorithms to fit custom situations, their cars interpret the input to take action regardless of the scenario.

[Lonnie DeVorak]

04:54 PM on 01/28/2012

Opppps....the software screwed up....(one way ticket to hell)

[ancientuno]

12:50 PM on 01/28/2012

The last thing I want is a car doing the driving for me or speaking to me. I am quite capable of doing both jobs at the same time even Bette.

[netzwerg]

05:41 AM on 01/28/2012

"We had a self-drivi­ng car 150 years ago.
Its called a passenger train."

We still have this stuff here, but nowadays they do 190mph, look much better and have high speed WiFi onboard:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANB-yZIJP6o

[netzwerg]

05:35 AM on 01/28/2012

"Would be easier to Hack a Nuke than GPS..Its a critical part of our Military and it's heavily protected.­."

Actually it's relatively easy to "hack" GPS. Just ask the Iranians, they faked GPS signals to make the American stealth drone land in their country by making the drone "think" it was somewhere else.
The attack was ultimately successful, leading the unmanned vehicle to land in Iran instead of its home base in Afghanistan.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/iran-may-captured-u-stealth-drone-hacking-gps-030447469.html

[Lonnie DeVorak]

04:57 PM on 01/28/2012

Getting car jacked to Iran is better than getting car jacked to my "ex's house.

[netzwerg]

05:24 AM on 01/28/2012

"Spend the resources on figuring out we can get along, feed the starving THEN do this stuff."

There are no starving people in Germany.

[iisd]

04:02 AM on 01/30/2012

Might wanna google "Die Tafel".

[netzwerg]

04:57 AM on 01/28/2012

"The incredible irony is how popular German products like Mercedes and BMW are among the 1% who rail against American unions and the socialist Obama. Each Mercedes is produced by a union member German employee with national socialized medicine and a robust social safety net."

Happy workers who like their job make better products. It's not rocket science.
I also work and live in Germany, people work incredibly hard here, are very well educated, make good money, don't have to worry about becoming sick, enjoy their annual 6 weeks paid vacation,....

No wonder the Germans outperform the US in exports (despite being far smaller): https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2078rank.html

[netzwerg]

04:48 AM on 01/28/2012

"I would be happy is a tire maker would make matching all-season high perfomance tires that fit both the front and rear wheel dimensions of my 135i Convertibl­e w/Msport package."

All Season tires are cr@p, not good in summer, not good in winter. It's just a compromise.
Especially on a good car like the 135i you should put proper tires on, which means summer tires in summer and winter tires in winter.

[Ramon Moreno]

12:03 AM on 01/28/2012

This should be standard equipment on BMW, Audi, and Mercedes. They drive like dicks.

[DavidEvan]

10:20 PM on 01/27/2012

There's a disclaimer for New Jersey

[finedaycoming]

08:21 PM on 01/27/2012

The challenge now is staying awake while sitting behind the wheel of a 5-series? Nah.

[rikster]

07:32 PM on 01/27/2012

I'd like to see it tested on Flatbush Avenue...