Bosch and CARIAD have started road tests of their first cars on the road, with open-loop systems to collect and record measurement data for sensor data processing and sensor fusion, as well as the robustness of driving functions.

With this data-driven development approach, the alliance is underlining its code to road ambition. It will be a key enabler for safe and convenient automated driving functions, allowing its teams to optimize the current software stack and develop new algorithms, the company said in a press release dated March 30.

The test vehicle is comprehensively equipped with new sensors and new electronic control units (ECUs). The alliance’s software stack has already been integrated into the first vehicles, with its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)/autonomous driving (AD) functions available to be tested in multiple environments such as in simulations; with cars on the road; in closed-loop systems where functions are taking over driving tasks; and in open-loop systems gathering valuable data.

Significance: In 2022, CARIAD and Bosch joined hands on software development in the Automated Driving Alliance, an extensive partnership focused on developing automated driving functions. It was a major shift for both companies from a supplier-customer relationship to partners. Nearly 1,500 employees are working in joint offices across Germany, with hubs in Ingolstadt and around Stuttgart, with equal resources deployed by both companies.

The automated driving partnership is first working on introducing a driver assistance system with active lane changes on the motorway. The target system will then allow hands-free driving in a wide variety of situations (Level 3). An expansion to include Level 4 functionalities is being evaluated.