The BMW Group has taken a significant step towards automation in its production facilities by introducing the Automated Driving In-Plant (AFW) system. This revolutionary system allows newly produced BMW and Mini vehicles to drive themselves off the assembly line without the need for human drivers.
Initially introduced as a pilot program at BMW’s Dingolfing factory in Europe, the AFW system has now been fully implemented and is ready for series production. This means that thousands of BMW vehicles, including the latest generation i5 and i7 electric sedans, as well as the new Mini Countryman, can now navigate their way around the factory floor autonomously.
The success of the AFW system at the Dingolfing factory has prompted BMW to expand its implementation to other factories across Europe. The Leipzig factory, for example, will see around 90% of its assembled models driven autonomously off the production line. The Regensburg plant in Germany and the Oxford factory in the United Kingdom are also slated to receive the AFW system next year. Additionally, the new Hungarian factory in Debrecen, which will produce the next-generation iX3 electric crossover, is next in line to adopt the self-driving technology.
At the Dingolfing site, the autonomous driving setup allows cars to traverse a route of over 0.62 miles without any human intervention. The vehicles start their autonomous journey from the assembly halls, navigate through a test course, and reach the finishing area within the same facility. Milan Nedeljković, a member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production, emphasized the company’s commitment to logging several million test kilometers with the AFW system over the next decade.
The AFW system relies on a network of sensors installed along the route, as well as an externally generated environment model and movement planner. BMW touts it as the largest Lidar infrastructure in Europe and envisions expanding its use to other areas of production, such as testing zones and outdoor distribution areas.
The introduction of the AFW system marks a significant milestone in BMW’s journey towards automation and digitalization of production processes. By paving the way for future applications in autonomous driving, BMW is once again setting a new benchmark in the automotive industry. With the seamless integration of cutting-edge technology like the AFW system, BMW is positioning itself at the forefront of innovation in the luxury automaker segment.