Audi has introduced its mobility concept for future cities at Auto Shanghai 2019. The showcar, known as the AI:ME, offers Level 4 autonomous capabilities. The AI system, which is designed to relieve driver strain, uses strategies and technologies from the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as vehicle and interaction intelligence.
For Audi, AI is the cipher for a variety of electronic systems that relieve driver strain and offer new possibilities to use the time spent in the car. To this end, Audi AI uses strategies and technologies from the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Audi AI also combines vehicle intelligence, which makes automated driving possible in the first place; and interaction intelligence, which turns the vehicle into the occupants’ partner.
The Audi AI:ME is designed for use in the city and for driving at Level 4 autonomy. Although systems with Level 4 do not require any assistance on the part of the driver, their function is limited to a specific area such as highways or a specially equipped area in inner-cities.
In these places, the driver can completely transfer the task of driving to the system. The driver needs to resume the task only when the car leaves the area defined for fully automated driving. In contrast to the Audi AIcon, a vehicle with Level 5 functionality, the Audi AI:ME is equipped with the traditional steering wheel and pedal control elements.
This means that the concept will drive automatically in a defined traffic area equipped with the corresponding infrastructure in the future. Self-regulating and self-controlling flows of traffic enable the vehicle to glide along, avoiding heavy longitudinal or lateral acceleration.