Kia is joining the large number of automakers who are developing autonomous technology. Thanks to numerous assistance systems, the cars capable of driving by themselves on long distances are not far away.
By 2020, Kia plans to introduce a range of partially-autonomous driving technologies to its model line-up, and is aiming to bring its first fully-autonomous car to market by 2030.
The evolution will start gradually. And with a big investment. The initial stage of investment by Kia, totalling US$2 billion by 2018, will enable the company to develop the first of its new Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technologies and employ a greater number of engineers. The investment will lead to the introduction of Kia’s next-generation smart vehicles in the coming years.
With ADAS still in its infancy, Kia will develop a range of technologies across three distinct categories to enable a vehicle to drive autonomously:
– Recognition: the development of new sensors to detect other vehicles and hazards, read the road ahead and identify poor driving conditions
– Judgment: advanced computing systems allowing the car to make decisions based on the information gathered by ADAS sensors
– Control: active electronic and mechanical systems allowing the vehicle to carry out the decisions taken by the autonomous technology in any given situation
Kia is planning to introduce a range of partially-autonomous ADAS technologies in the coming years, with an array of new functions anticipated for introduction to market by 2020.
