Page 46 - EE Times Europe Magazine - June 2025

46 EE|Times EUROPE

HERE, BMW Extend Precision Mapping for Autonomous Driving

While still in the research phase, this move
could one day enable real-time feedback
loops between sensor data and mapping
intelligence.

THE GROWING ROLE OF MAPPING IN
AUTONOMOUS DRIVING AT SCALE
Despite the lack of a universal standard for
HD maps in autonomous vehicles, HERE
supplies mapping technology to both BMW
and Mercedes for Level 3 functions. “We
give a standard map to everybody,” Balcaen
said. “But it’s not a standard in the sense of
something that’s agreed upon by a group of
companies. The standard is defined by us,
based on IP we are improving as the market
evolves.”
Flexibility and market responsiveness
are crucial. Automakers need customizable
Visualization of HERE HD Live Maps’ layers (Source: HERE Technologies) solutions that align with their own sensor
configurations and software stacks. Balcaen
AI models also reduce the time it takes the map with the software and the vehicle,” said HERE delivers that modularity while
to implement updates. Tasks that once Balcaen said. maintaining the quality thresholds required
took months or even years can now be done Thanks in part to HERE Technologies’ for autonomy.
in weeks or days. HERE was able to map detailed lane and contextual data, BMW vehi- In the rapidly changing world of AVs, maps
attributes relevant to trucks—including road cles in Germany can now operate with Level 3 have become more than static reference tools;
grade, bridge height, and curve radius—across autonomy at speeds up to 130 km/h. they are dynamic, intelligent systems that
Europe in just a few months in a project with Behind the scenes, this data-rich operation feed real-time context into a vehicle’s deci-
Bosch and Daimler Truck. runs on massive computing infrastructure. sion-making engine. With AI-enhanced maps,
HERE relies heavily on AWS, with a 10-year HERE aims to provide not only a digital repre-
With AI-enhanced maps, strategic partnership valued at more than sentation of the road but a predictive layer that
$1 billion, to process and manage the vast
enhances safety, comfort, and autonomy.
HERE aims to provide quantities of mapping data. norm, partnerships like the one between
As software-defined vehicles become the
Yet even with this scale, HERE claims to
a predictive layer that maintain strict data privacy standards. All HERE Technologies and BMW Group will
enhances safety, comfort, and in-vehicle sensor data is anonymized and be key to scaling autonomy across markets
and regulatory environments. “Ultimately,
aggregated before processing. “In our line of
autonomy. business, GDPR and privacy rules are key in it’s about giving intelligence back to the
everything we do,” Balcaen said. driver—or the driving system—as quickly and
HERE is also exploring edge computing accurately as possible,” Balcaen said. “That’s
The goal that Balcaen calls the “holy grail” to bring more decision-making closer to the how we keep people safe, and that’s how we
is a global map that can be updated within vehicle, reducing latency and bandwidth use. move the industry forward.” ■
24 hours. While that may still be aspirational
for some aspects of the road, HERE already
provides updates in just a few hours for sim-
pler changes, such as changes in speed limits.
“Making any updates in just a couple of hours
is already a huge achievement,” she said.
“The benefits are clear: Fresher data means
fewer sudden disengagements of autonomous
driving functions, creating a safer and more
seamless driver experience.”
For BMW, the integration of HERE
Technologies’ HD Live Maps into BMW’s
autonomous driving stack is about more than
just capability; it’s also about refining the
premium driving experience. When a vehicle
knows what’s ahead—from the shape of a turn
to a change in speed limit—it can respond
smoothly and appropriately. This avoids
abrupt braking or steering corrections that
would otherwise occur if the car relied solely
on sensors. Visualization of how a car localizes itself using the information provided by HD Live Maps
“That is the magic of the combination of (Source: HERE Technologies)

JUNE 2025 | www.eetimes.eu