Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Argo AI Start International Trials of Autonomous Driving Using ID. BUZZ AD
May 18, 2021
News
With development already underway, the first self-driving prototypes based on the future ID. BUZZ will commence operations in Munich this summer.
The development marks a milestone in the Group's international collaboration, as part of which Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) is facilitating the development of Level 4-capable autonomous driving technology for self-driving vans.
“Our aim with the self-driving version of the ID. BUZZ is to facilitate commercial deployment of transport and delivery services starting in 2025,” explained divisional director Christian Senger during a digital press conference. “In select cities, customers will be able to have a self-driving vehicle take them to their destination. The delivery of goods and packages will also be made much easier through our autonomous driving service.”
For the integration of the technology into the all-electric ID. BUZZ AD, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has partnered with Argo AI, the US-headquartered autonomous vehicle technology platform company that is developing the self-driving system. Earlier this year, Argo integrated its self-driving system with a Volkswagen vehicle prototype to begin testing in Germany.
Both Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Argo AI regard the use of a combination of sensors – including lidar, radar, and cameras – for safe autonomous driving capability. Argo AI recently unveiled its new lidar sensor, Argo Lidar, which allows it to see objects from 400 meters away. Argo AI’s proprietary Geiger-mode lidar has the ability to detect small particles of light — a single photon — for sensing objects with low reflectivity.
There are also plans for the commercial use of the future technology for transport service providers. Per the companies, Volkswagen Group subsidiary MOIA will in 2025 become the first user of the self-driving ID. BUZZ AD.
For more information, visit: www.argo.ai or www.moia.io.
