Automated Driving In-Plant
Assembly Line
BMW Cars Drive Themselves Off Assembly Lines
BMW AG has unveiled Automated Driving In-Plant (AFW) technology at its assembly plant in Dingolfing, Germany. BMW 5 Series and 7 Series sedans drive fully autonomously along a route of more than 1 kilometer from the production line to the finishing area via a “short test course.”
This is made possible by lidar sensors installed along the route. Regardless of a vehicle’s equipment options, the system controls all movements, using state-of-the-art cloud architecture.
BMW plans to expand its use of AFW technology to other areas of production, such as for driving through the testing zone and outdoor distribution areas. Another key factor in expanding the technology is the increasing use of on-board technology, which will support the external sensors in the long term.