IGNITION
BMW Motorrad have become the world’s first major motorcycle company to present a working prototype of an autonomous bike
BMW MOTORRAD RECENTLY showcased a fully autonomous R 1200 GS at the company’s Techday 2018 event held at the BMW Group testing grounds in Miramas, France. The bike, which was shown to a select group of journalists, started off and went on to ride the winding test track and even came to a stop afterwards without an incident. While citing this as a major technical development, BMW Motorrad also mentioned that they did not want to promote this as an independent motorcycle but highlight the technology involved in the bike. The company says that the underlying technology can be used in the future to make motorcycles safer and more comfortable while offering greater riding pleasure.
Although BMW Motorrad did not reveal all the tech that has gone into making the autonomous motorcycle a reality, they did say that the company had an association with BMW Automobiles for many of the innovative features that are employed in the self-riding R 1200 GS.
Along with the autonomous motorcycle, BMW Motorrad also showcased new innovations such as laser headlamp, cornering lights, 3D printed bike frames, and swing-arms. The company says that a process for 3D printing of complex components that are otherwise difficult to manufacture using conventional processes is already in place.
The German company also showcased its V2V (Vehicle to Vehicle) communication systems that help two- and four-wheelers to “talk” to each other on the road using digital networking to preclude accidents.