Last week, BMW Motorrad presented its first autonomous motorcycle at BMW Motorrad Techday 2018. At the BMW Group test site in Miramas, southern France, the magically moving BMW R 1200 GS took its first lap in front of the journalists present. Designed by engineer Stefan Hans and his team, the vehicle autonomously starts, accelerates, turns around the turning track and autonomously decelerates to a stop.
With this futuristic development, BMW Motorrad, as a promoter of technological innovation in the motorcycle sector, does not intend a completely autonomous motorcycle. Rather, the underlying technology will serve as a platform for the development of future systems and functions that will make two-wheelers even safer and more comfortable and increase driving pleasure. The aim of the development of this prototype is to acquire further knowledge of motorcycle driving in order to immediately detect dangerous situations and thus support the driver with appropriate safety systems, for example when turning at an intersection or during hard braking.
In addition to these new frontiers of riding pleasure and safety, BMW Motorrad has introduced many other exciting technological projects. The headlights, from lights that follow the vehicle’s trajectory to laser projectors, were among the main projects unveiled, along with a motorcycle frame made entirely by a 3D printing process, including the rear swingarm. As with the development of the autonomous motorcycle, BMW Motorrad has once again taken advantage of the synergy with the BMW automotive division, where this production process has already found its way into the serial production of various vehicles. The advantage of 3D printing lies in the complete freedom to design components that could not be produced in any other way.
BMW Motorrad also showed another example of competence and technical superiority in the field of innovative manufacturing processes, showing motorcycle components such as the light but very strong frame, swingarm and wheels, made of carbon and already industrially produced for the BMW HP4 RACE. In this area, BMW Motorrad works closely with BMW Auto to achieve maximum technology and quality as this material has long been used in series production.
Last but not least, BMW Motorrad showed a perspective on how the rapid development of digital systems will change the future of motorcycles. BMW Motorrad takes on the challenge of considering the needs of two-wheelers in the transportation world of tomorrow and is technologically prepared to respond to them. First of all, V2V communication between two vehicles, and the related benefits in terms of safety and comfort for the motorcyclist due to digital communication, is a main area of research and in this case too, BMW Motorrad benefits from close cooperation with colleagues at BMW Automattic.
More information on BMW Motorrad motorcycles and motorcycle equipment can be found in the BMW PressClub at the link: www.press.bmwgroup.com.
For more information:
Andrea Frignani
BMW Group Italy
Motorrad Communications and Public Relations Manager
Phone: 02/51610780 Fax: 02/51610 0416
Email: Andrea.Frignani@bmw.it
Press website: www.press.bmwgroup.com
BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of premium cars and motorcycles and also offers premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 30 production and assembly plants in 14 countries and has a global sales network in over 140 countries.
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