ZF unveils affordable Level 2+ automated driving system at CES 2020

By the end of 2020, ZF’s coASSIST Level 2+ Automated Driving system – seen here as a prototype – will be available for a price at well under $1,000 (Rs 72,000).

Technology company ZF, which is concentrating on Level 2+ semi-automated systems that deliver advanced safety and convenience functions, has, along with its partners, developed the most affordable Level 2+ system in the industry. ZF’s coASSIST is the first step into the modular Level 2+ hardware and software suite and highlights ZF’s capabilities as the full system supplier. From 2020, ZF says it will equip production vehicles with this new system for a major Asian OEM. 

ZF sees the so-called Level 2+ semi-automated driving systems as a pragmatic and feasible approach to help enhance safety and comfort in passenger cars.  By combining an advanced sensor suite including cameras and radars with a central electronic control unit, functions such as adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane change assist, lane keeping assist and traffic jam support are enabled. 

ZF’s coASSIST system offers drivers significant comfort and safety benefits at a price well under US $1,000 (Rs 72,060) – while meeting projected Euro NCAP 2024 test protocols and delivering popular Level 2+ functions. It will be in production with a major Asian manufacturer by the end of 2020 utilising the full ZF system including Mobileye’s EyeQ. Following the initial start of production, the system will also introduce ZF’s first launch of its Gen21 Medium-Range Radar. 

“At ZF, we believe that Level 2+ systems that meet advanced safety test protocols and help relieve the stress on the driving task will be the primary driver for personal passenger vehicles in the near future and provide a platform to help identify, and then test and validate for unusual global road scenarios,” said Christophe Marnat, executive vice president for the ZF Electronics and Advanced Driver Assist Systems division.

Making these systems affordable is also important as it enables more market penetration and brings the system advantages to consumers more rapidly. This will also help them to acclimate to semi-automated functions as the driver is always in the loop. 

ZF, which is the system integrator,offers a full range of L2+ systems including:

ZF coASSIST – the cost-effective Level 2+ solution that helps meet Euro NCAP performance requirements while delivering the most popular Level 2+ ADAS functions utilising Mobileye, an Intel Company, EyeQ technology,

ZF coDRIVE – extends the functionality of traffic jam and highway driving support. 360deg surround camera perception and the processing capability of Mobileye’s EyeQ technology enable automated lane changes and automatic overtaking.

ZF coPILOT is designed for advanced computing power and processing scalability from Level 2+ up to Level 4 and is jointly developed with NVIDIA. It offers functions like feet-free and hands-free operation, automated lane change and overtaking, automated garage parking and route learning and utilises ZF’s ProAI controller. 

“This full suite of offerings is the most comprehensive in the industry and allows customers to choose the right level of functionality to assist in driving scenarios such as Highway driving, traffic jams in urban or highway situations, driver initiated to automatic lane changes and automated parking assistance. Following the launch of coASSIST this year ZF’s full range of Level 2+ systems will be available in the following 1-3 years,” said Marnat.