Author: EUCAR July 8, 2021 Share this:

On July 7, 2021, the new EU flagship project addressing challenges towards the deployment of connected and highly automated vehicles kicked off.

Hi-Drive focuses its efforts on several key challenges that are currently hindering the progress in vehicle automation. The project joins 40 partners from the automotive industry, research institutes and other relevant stakeholders. Hi-Drive will push automated driving (AD) from SAE Level 3 further up towards higher levels of automation by demonstrating in large-scale trials the robustness and reliability of CAD functions in diverse and challenging environments.

Technology enablers such as hybrid connectivity, big data or machine learning support the CAD function in error-prone conditions and remove its fragmented availability at the limits of its Operational Design Domain (ODD). This will allow automation to operate vehicles for longer periods and across borders and brands.

Led by Volkswagen AG, the project will run for 48 months with a budget of more than €60 million. Hi-Drive follows the L3Pilot project. The consortium includes fourteen European vehicle manufacturers, Volkswagen (Coordinator), Audi, BMW Group, Fiat, Ford, Honda R&D Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, PSA Group, SEAT, Toyota Motor Europe, Volvo Cars and Volvo Group. The consortium is completed with suppliers (APTIV, BOSCH, FEV, NNG, PTV, VALEO and AAI) to support the OEM implementations by research partners (Cetag, DRL, SNF, TNO, VEDECOM, VTT, ICCS, RWTH, Chalmers, TU Delft, Leeds Uv, Genoa, Warwick Uv, WIVW and EICT). Hi-Drive partners include as well IRF, FIA, TÜV and BASt.

This project is co-funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101006664.

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