In a big push towards an autonomous future, Mobileye’s fully autonomous no-driver system (also known as L4) has been announced for in-traffic testing in Germany. The Mobileye Drive™ platform was introduced by the country’s Deutsche Bahn (DB) aboard six on-demand shuttles (with no passengers at this point) in Darmstadt and Offenbach in the Rhine-Main area. The KIRA project, as it’s called, plans to utilize Mobileye Drive to expand on-demand shuttle service, and to further include rural areas into the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) service area.
This accomplishment speaks volumes to Mobileye’s software and hardware abilities, since the platform had to clear Germany’s “national type approval for motor vehicles with a fully automated driving function,” or AFGBV, a regulation process that standardizes AV testing and could be used as a blueprint for regulators and institutions beyond Germany.
It is worth noting that Mobileye Drive is designed as a “one-size-fits-most” platform, meaning its agnostic nature allows it to work in different ODDs in certain circumstances. Combined with its regulatory success so far, the platform could be attractive for various projects, as demonstrated by this recent progress as well as by the March announcement of Mobileye and VW’s collaboration on the ID Buzz, and by the number of European local governments and providers who are eyeing the platform as a way of reshaping mobility in their cities. Parking congestion, pollution, and ill-suited public transportation services are just a few causes for the growing interest in AV solutions such as Mobileye Drive.
A track record shaping the future
The DB collaboration is far from the first time Mobileye’s solutions have passed rigorous regulations, and in some cases, it has helped shape the industry’s expectations. Based on extensive research and experience, Mobileye delivers more than its hardware/software know-how, it also offers a record of fulfilling OEMs’, regulators’, policy makers’ and end users’ demands and expectations, doing so in a manner that is safe, cost-effective and scalable.
In early 2024 it was announced that Mobileye Drive will begin testing and validation in Zagreb, Croatia as part of a collaboration with local company Project 3 Mobility. It has also been tested on the streets of Munich and Austin as part of Mobileye’s work with the VW group. The company also reinforced our commitment to the highest level of safety regulation at the first Global NCAP Forum. So, as the demand from consumers, automakers and regulators for safe mobility solutions constantly grows, Mobileye delivers essential capabilities that drive the automotive industry forward.
Street level autonomous MaaS
Autonomous mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) solutions operating on the street, such as on-demand shuttles, have an important role in the future of mobility. Public transport operators and authorities aspire to offer greater access to mobility to more people through cost-efficient services, despite a growing scarcity of drivers. These are pains autonomous MaaS could help alleviate.
Communities often look for innovative ideas that could reinvigorate public mobility services within their borders while also satisfying regulators’ demands. Mobileye’s progress in Germany reflects an ambitious vision, reimagining how people travel, which is turning into a reality.
SOURCE: Mobileye
