BMW drives digitized, electrified future

BMW i Vision Future Interaction concept car

One of the world's leading premium vehicle manufacturers is creating a new automotive world with its pioneering attempts in sectors including e-mobility, connectivity and the Internet of Things, Li Fusheng reports.

Internet of Things

BMW ranks among the leading vehicle manufacturers when it comes to connecting driver, vehicle and environment, and it is providing an insight into the future of networked mobility.

The Internet of Things is increasingly leaving the computer in the background and is instead connecting the things in our daily lives that can be equipped with new "smart" functions owing to the installed computing capacities.

The Open Mobility Cloud links up networked systems such as the BMW i3 and the smart home with various personal devices such as the smartphone or smart watch.

This configuration enables the OMC to provide automated control of complex processes that are in tune with the needs of users, without their having to be requested individually or started using an app. The Internet of Things is creating completely new, innovative functions that make daily life easier.

BMW Connected

BMW Connected represents an intelligent, highly personalized world of digital services that integrate the vehicle seamlessly into the life of the user.

Users and their personal needs are situated at the center of the services, irrespective of whether they are moving around with or without a vehicle. The approach to mobility adopted by the BMW Group with this digital assistant is radically new in the automobile industry.

A wide range of different end devices are perfectly integrated into the networking system - mobility becomes seamless - and users have more convenience when they are moving around. At the same time they save time, money and energy.

Head-up Display Helmet

The BMW Motorrad head-up display projects necessary or desirable traffic or vehicle information directly into the rider's field of view, allowing him to maintain constant observation of the traffic on the road with no distraction.

With a view to offering this technology in motorcycles of the future, a predevelopment process was conducted in which a BMW Motorrad helmet was fitted with an innovative head-up display function.

This enables the projection of data directly into the rider's field of view. This means that the rider no longer has to glance at the instrument panel and he is able to concentrate fully and without distraction on the road traffic.

All displays are freely programmable. Ideally, to provide the best-possible support for rider safety, only information that is helpful and relevant to the current situation should be displayed to the rider at any given moment.

Light & Charge

Light & Charge combines the most advanced LED technology for street lighting with a cashless option for connecting up to charging high-voltage batteries used in electric cars.

The road lamps can be fitted on a modular basis with up to four specially energy-efficient and high luminance LED modules depending on the lighting requirement.

The Light & Charge units of the BMW Group have a standardized connector for the charging cable of electric vehicles, including those manufactured by other manufacturers. The integrated control unit features contactless starting for the charging procedure using an app with a smartphone or the Radio Frequency Identification Card.

The Light & Charge technology is just one of numerous projects that the BMW Group is driving forward with partners from government, energy and automobile sectors throughout Europe and the US with the aim of successfully establishing electromobility.

Mirrorless

BMW i8 Mirrorless has two cameras accommodated in aerodynamically optimized holders to replace the existing exterior mirrors, and a third camera is mounted on the upper edge of the rear windscreen.

All images are merged and displayed as a single image on a high-resolution display suspended in the position of the rearview mirror.

The image of the traffic behind the car covers a greater viewing angle than could be observed using the interior and exterior mirrors. No adjustment of the cameras is necessary.

Even relatively small and dynamic road users like motorcyclists are recorded either by the camera or directly in vision from the side window. Dangerous blind spots have been consigned to the past.

The display is around 300 millimeters wide and 75 mm high. The casing is rounded at the side, conveying a natural panoramic perception of traffic behind the car.

Gesture Control

Gesture control is being used for the first time in the new BMW 7 Series. A 3-D sensor positioned in the area of the front interior lighting recognizes hand movements by the driver or passenger such as "swipe", "point" or "rotate" carried out between the gear lever and the instrument panel.

The appropriate gestures are used for a number of functions including adjustment of the loudness of the audio program, and for accepting or rejecting incoming phone calls. A defined gesture with an individually selectable function can also be linked up.

Laserlight

The new BMW 7 Series is the first car to be equipped with this new pioneering technology. Distinguishable by its blue horizontal bar of light in the center of the headlight, it enables the BMW 7 Series high-beam to achieve greater coverage and higher intensity.

The BMW Laserlight has a range of up to 600 meters when in laser high-beam mode - almost twice that of conventional headlights. It is activated fully-automatically once a speed of 70 km/h has been reached.

The equipment includes LED low-beam and LED high-beam headlights with laser module.

Remote Control Parking

The function allows the driver to simply exit the car, after which it can be maneuvered forward by remote control into narrow spaces or a garage.

The Remote Control Parking function is activated by the driver once outside the car, with the aid of the BMW display key. The complete parking process is monitored by the Park Distance Control, the Parking assistant and the Surround View sensors.

When exiting a parking space, the Remote Control Parking function reverses the vehicle straight back and does not steer the vehicle.

With the BMW display key, the functions Engine Start/Stop and Lock/Unlock can also be carried out, as well as the Remote Control Parking itself.