BMW and Qualcomm Launch Game-Changing Automated Driving System
The automotive world is witnessing a major leap forward as Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and BMW Group unveil their jointly developed Snapdragon Ride Pilot, an automated driving system set to redefine safety, efficiency, and driving intelligence. After three years of intensive collaboration, the system has made its debut in the all-new BMW iX3, part of the highly anticipated Neue Klasse range.
This ground-breaking solution runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride™ system-on-chips (SoCs) and is powered by the Snapdragon Ride AD software stack, co-engineered with BMW. Validated for use in over 60 countries, with a target to reach more than 100 by 2026, Snapdragon Ride Pilot promises to transform driver assistance capabilities worldwide. Importantly, it’s now available to all automakers and Tier-1 suppliers, making the technology a global asset.
A Global Collaboration at Scale
Developing Snapdragon Ride Pilot was no small feat. Over 1,400 specialists from Germany, the USA, Sweden, Romania, and BMW’s AD Test Centre in the Czech Republic worked in unison over three years to bring this technology to life.
Nakul Duggal, Group General Manager at Qualcomm Technologies, reflected on the partnership: “Our collaboration with BMW’s world-class engineering team has been truly transformative, enabling us to build a world-class system that is now available to bring the safety and comfort benefits of automated driving to consumers across all regions and vehicle tiers.”
Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President Development Driving Experience at BMW Group, added: “Together with Qualcomm Technologies, we’ve created a groundbreaking system, which is a significant contribution to the big technological leap we take with our Neue Klasse.”
Inside the Snapdragon Ride AD Software Stack
At the heart of Snapdragon Ride Pilot lies the Snapdragon Ride AD software stack, combining Qualcomm’s perception expertise with BMW’s drive policy innovations.
This scalable and cost-efficient platform allows automakers to use either their own drive policy or Qualcomm’s turnkey solution.
Key Components:
- 360-Degree Perception: Camera-based vision for object detection, lane recognition, traffic sign interpretation, parking assistance, and driver monitoring. Enhanced through bird-eye-view (BEV) architecture and fisheye camera data.
- Safety-First Design: Compliance with ASIL and FuSa standards, alongside NCAP, FMVSS127, and DCAS regulations. Cybersecurity measures include encryption and real-time threat detection.
- Advanced Context-Aware Driving: A fusion of rule-based and AI-driven models for behaviour prediction and planning, managing complex urban and highway scenarios.
The stack also benefits from a cutting-edge data and simulation factory, merging real-world and synthetic data to prepare the system for countless driving scenarios. Over-the-air updates ensure the technology evolves with time, leveraging fleet data to enhance performance and safety.
Powering the BMW iX3’s Next-Gen ADAS
Snapdragon Ride powers the BMW iX3’s central computing hub, dubbed the “Superbrain of Automated Driving”. Offering twenty times the computing power of its predecessor, this unified architecture integrates:
- High-performance SoCs for sensor data processing
- Advanced computer vision modules
- A full suite of high-definition cameras and radar sensors
Capabilities:
- Contextual lane changes triggered by driver cues
- Highway assistant enabling hands-free driving on approved networks
- AI-powered parking assistance with slot detection
- In-cabin camera-based monitoring
The BMW iX3 also features Qualcomm’s V2X 200 chipset, facilitating vehicle-to-everything communications to detect hazards beyond line-of-sight, adding another layer of safety.
Shaping the Future of Intelligent Mobility
This partnership between Qualcomm and BMW is more than just a product launch. It signals a shift towards intelligent, adaptable, and safe mobility ecosystems. By integrating scalable software, robust safety protocols, and AI-powered adaptability, Snapdragon Ride Pilot sets a benchmark for future automated driving systems.
With availability to global automakers, the impact is expected to ripple across the industry, accelerating the adoption of advanced driver assistance systems and reshaping how we perceive autonomous technology.
