Ansys, BMW developing software for autonomous vehicles

Pittsburgh-based Ansys, an engineering simulation company, and the BMW Group recently extended their collaboration to create a tool guided by safety principles to develop and validate advanced driver-assistance systems and automated/autonomous driving functions.

The BMW Group will use Ansys software solutions in a tool chain that defines test plans, pilots its execution, and gathers and compiles data-critical system information. The software uses Algorithms to help make critical decisions early in the design process.

BMW will become one of the first automotive manufacturers to offer Level 3 (L3) highly automated driving to consumers.

“Achieving level 3 autonomy is a key differentiator for us and an opportunity to demonstrate our high-level of technical innovation in this area,” Nicolai Martin, BMW Group Driving Experience senior vice president, said. “We are continuously searching for more comfort, for more intelligence, and more convenience to deliver the safest, most pleasurable driving experience for our customers. To support us in these efforts, we choose Ansys as a partner because of its strong simulation background over several domains, as well as its engineering know-how and experience with statistics and scenario analysis in the autonomous space.”

Manufacturers must build a safety case based on data from testing executed over millions of miles to understand how their AV systems will perform to reach L3 functions.