Haval outlines autonomous future
BY ROBBIE WALLIS | 29th Apr 2019
HAVAL has outlined its ambitions for an autonomous future by targeting Level 4 self-driving capability in its models by 2023, with the introduction of its new i-Pilot system in production models from 2020 to lay the groundwork.
Developed by its research and development centres in China, the US and India, the Haval i-Pilot system is currently capable of SAE Level 3 autonomy, and is undergoing testing for use in road cars. However, the first production-ready iteration, called i-Pilot 1.0, will be made available next year.
No Australian timing has been given for the arrival, but customers can expect to see the system debut in the all-new Haval H9, which is set to land locally in 2021.
Given the H9 shares a platform with the all-new Great Wall Ute, there is also a possibility that the technology could find its way onto the pick-up at some point during the vehicle’s lifespan.
i-Pilot 1.0 will be capable of performing certain on-road tasks independently, such as navigating highways and ramps, and dealing with traffic conditions such as roadworks, traffic jams and tunnels.
At the same time, the brand will also be working on developing the second iteration of the system called i-Pilot 2.0, designed to provide autonomous driving in urban environments, and will be designed to support functions such as remote vehicle car sharing.
The i-Pilot 1.0 and 2.0 systems are expected to carry through until around 2023, at which point the updated 3.0 system is expected to arrive, complete with vehicle-to-infrastructure capability.
Haval says the i-Pilot 3.0 system will feature full-time autonomy, which “will be able to achieve unmanned driving in broader environment”.
The 3.0 system will mark Level 4 autonomy for Haval, and is the system that the car-maker envisages will be equipped in its Vision 2025 concept car.
Revealed at the Shanghai motor show, the Vision 2025 represents a study of what the brand hopes to achieve in design, technology and powertrains by the year 2025.
The last iteration of the Haval i-Pilot system will predictably be called 4.0, and will be released sometime after 2025.
According to the Chinese brand, “it’s expected that Haval SUV can fully achieve autonomous driving under normal road conditions” when equipped with the 4.0 system, and that “in non-emergency situations, no driver intervention is required”.
Haval’s autonomous research and development will conclude with the end goal of developing a completely unmanned SUV.
