Bosch drives advances

When asked to picture a driverless car, it conjures up images of David Hasselhoff and his all-black, crime-fighting speedster from the 1980s TV show Knight Rider. Decades later, with mullet haircuts and techno theme music distant trends of the past, driverless cars are quickly becoming trends of the present.

Recent years have seen driverless vehicles emerge as a key priority in the research and development programs for some of the world's leading auto companies. While some see the development of such a car as mere publicity stunts to promote their brand, other auto companies see it as a progression in driver safety.

Auto companies such as Bosch, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz have started to explore deeper the innovation of this latest technology. The greatest advances in auto innovation, however, have undoubtedly come from Bosch, who recently became the first auto technical supplier to test a driverless car on a public road in Germany.

As the leading auto industrial company based in Germany, Bosch has emerged ahead of the competition of driverless cars, with the Chinese auto market as its main target. According to the company's fiscal report in 2013, Bosch's auto sales rose globally by 3.1 percent last year, with Bosch's sales in China increasing 18 percent from the previous year.

Seeking a further winning edge over the market in 2014, Bosch is promoting the concept of self-driving and vehicle-mounted technology into the Chinese market. The benefits of driverless vehicles are clear to see according to a Reuters' report from January 2014, which states that more than 90 percent of all accidents are caused by human error.

In light of high traffic accidents, auto companies, like Bosch, have started to focus more on driver safety. The development of collision-prevention technology and self-driving systems which can take advanced precautions are an attempt to reduce human errors on the road.

The aim to take control away from drivers and place it in the hands of a self-driving system, is the spearhead for this new age of driverless vehicles.

According to the company's plan on driverless innovation, Bosch's driver auxiliary system will be capable of autonomous cruise control, predictive emergency braking, parking assistance and traffic sign recognition. This will be achieved by combining sensors such as radar, camera, and ultra-sound by means of an electronic network. All these technologies are to offer drivers a safe and comfortable driving experience with reduced risks.

Bosch's sensors for driving assistance are considered leading developments in automotive technology. One type of radar sensor they developed sold a million models within the first six months after being launched in January 2013, according to the Global Entrepreneur magazine. The company is expected to produce over 10 million more radar sensors by the year 2016.

In the light of the company's prediction, the market size of driver's auxiliary system will rise one third annually from 2013 to 2017.

However, Bosch isn't the only company pouring resources into self-driving technology. In 2010, Google introduced the concept of a driverless car in the US to much hype and praise.

According to a China News report on July 7, Volvo has also initiated its experimental trial on self-driving vehicles. Volvo's newly-launched autos aim to reduce the number of deaths and casualties to zero by 2020.

The existence of driverless cars on public roads is not years away, but merely months. In the UK, the town of Milton Keynes is expected to introduce 20 driverless vehicles in early 2015. Referred to as "pods," they are reported to travel up to 19 kilometers per hour and carry a maximum of two people. Initially, these "pods" will operate in their own lanes independent of other vehicles, but are anticipated to travel on main roads by 2017 with the number on the road increased to over 100.

Given that China has become the prime market for many of the world's leading auto companies as of late, it is likely that the system might one day be adapted to the roads in China as well.

An Qingheng, vice-president of the China Automobile Industry Advisory Committee, told the Global Times that although a driverless system may boost the technical innovation of the auto industry, it is still too early to evaluate how it may contribute to reducing traffic accidents on China's roads.

"The traffic conditions in China are much different than other Western countries in terms of traffic flow," said An. "Traffic rules will also have to be adapted to match this new concept of driving."

An noted that even with the advances in this new technology, it will still take time before it is available for ordinary customers.