Semi-Autonomous Driving Tech will be ready by 2020, Says Kia Motors

MANILA: Kia Motors aims to equip its entire lineup with the semi-autonomous driving technology by 2020. The company has set an initial budget of $2 billion to develop its own self-driving software called Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and hire new engineers. While ADAS is yet in its early stage of development, the automaker is already working on various technologies that will allow ADAS to drive the car autonomously.

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First is 'Recognition' technology, wherein the car uses a range sensor that can detect other cars and the potential road hazards ahead. The next is 'Judgement' technology, which is basically a computing system which helps the ADAS to make decisions depending on the information gathered. The last is 'Control' technology, which works in tandem with the 'Judgement' technology because it 'executes' the instructions given by it.

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The South Korean automaker is also working on various features of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), for example, Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Smart Parking Assist System (SPAS) etc. The Highway Driving Assist (HDA) feature works in tandem with a Lane Guidance System (LGS) and an Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC). The HDA system maintains a safe distance from cars in front while keeping the car in a specific lane and following the set speed limit. The system can also help drivers overtake other cars by.

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The Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) feature of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) works like the highway driving assist system, but it has been developed especially for the highly-congested setting. Like HDA system, The Traffic Jam Assist System also maintains a safe distance from the car in front while keeping the car in a specific lane. The company is also working to improve the Smart Parking Assist System (SPAS) along with planned introduction of the Remote Advanced Parking Assist System (RAPAS). The system will allow the drivers to remotely command the car to park by itself.

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“Fully autonomous vehicles are still some way off, and a great deal of research and rigorous product testing will need to be carried out to make the ‘self-driving car’ a reality. Kia is still in the early stages of developing its own technologies, and we are confident that the latest innovations – both partially and fully autonomous – will ultimately make driving safer for everyone,” said Tae-Won Lim, Vice President, Central Advanced Research and Engineering Institute of Hyundai Motor Group. The South Korean automaker has planned to introduce 'fully-autonomous' car by 2030.

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