BMW is one of the first European car manufacturers to receive approval for its driver assistance system (DCAS). The German carmaker can now offer its ‘Motorway Assistant’ for the new iX3 in 60 countries without having to apply for approval in each country.
The DCAS regulation was adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) last year. DCAS stands for Driver Control Assistance Systems and provides an international legal framework for Level 2 driver assistance systems.
The regulation defines DCAS as systems that continuously assist the driver in controlling the vehicle’s longitudinal and lateral movement without taking over the entire driving task.
One for all
For the convenience of car manufacturers, the DCAS procedure only requires that one regulatory authority approve their driver assistance system in one of the countries participating in the agreement.
The system may then be installed in vehicles for all 60 participating countries worldwide. These include all EU member states, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Norway, Israel, Switzerland, Turkey, and South Africa. The DCAS procedure does not apply to the USA, Canada, or China.
With Motorway Assistant activated, drivers of the new BMW iX3 can take their hands off the steering wheel permanently at speeds of up to 130 kph, but must remain alert and ready to intervene. The system assists with steering within the vehicle’s own lane and can also change lanes automatically if necessary – a glance from the driver is sufficient confirmation.
Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President Driving Experience Development: “The safety-oriented DCAS-regulation ensures that we can launch our Motorway Assistant with hands-off function in many more countries.”
“Further innovative assistance systems with our special, symbiotic approach between vehicle and driver will follow. We are creating a perfect interplay between rule-based algorithms and artificial intelligence. The driver remains involved, our systems are controllable at all times, and their behavior is reproducible.”
Motorway & City Assistant
BMW’s Motorway Assistant is not standard on the iX3, but is available as a paid optional extra called ‘Motorway & City Assistant’ for 1,450 euros (in Germany). In addition to Motorway Assistant, City Assistant will enable the vehicle to stop at red lights and automatically restart when launched in Germany. At a later date, additional driver assistance functions for complex driving situations in urban areas will be rolled out via over-the-air software updates.
The German carmaker’s Motorway & City Assistant can initially be used for 2 years after purchase, and then extended for another 2 years free of charge. After that, the functions of this optional extra can be extended via the BMW ConnectedDrive Store
Initially, City Assist can only be used in Germany, and Motorway Assist can only be used in Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
This is likely due to regulatory reasons, as the aforementioned DCAS regulation allows for EU-wide type approval, meaning that the technology can be installed in all cars sold in the EU.
However, the actual use of such assistance systems still requires approval from individual EU countries, and an EU-wide regulation on this is yet to be introduced.
BMW Symbiotic Drive
In addition to the new possibilities offered by the DCAS regulation for driver assistance systems, the BMW Group continues to consistently design its systems so that driver and driver assistance work together symbiotically.
BMW Symbiotic Drive aims to create a seamless transition between assistance and driver input and has reached the next level of development in the ‘Neue Klasse’ vehicles. In addition to symbiotic steering, the BMW iX3 is the world’s first model with symbiotic brakes.
With active driver assistance, the driver can influence the system at any time by lightly intervening in steering and braking, without switching off the driver assistance. The system remains active to provide support. The innovative power of the symbiotic brake is underpinned by more than two dozen BMW Group patent applications resulting from the development of these technologies.
