Under a new tie-up, two UK tech companies plan to jointly develop an ADAS that is specifically optimized for energy efficiency. According to Hypermile and Spark EV Technology, the tool will enable more accurate range prediction and better fuel efficiency for HEVs.
Badged Co-pilot, the product development project is receiving funding through a £400,000 (US$545,000) Innovate UK grant. It consists of a hardware and software component, and intuitively uses computer vision and artificial intelligence to assess when the vehicle should coast – using no energy – and when to maximize regen braking, topping up the vehicle’s battery.
“This collaboration is a massive step in the right direction for the electric vehicle industry. The outcome of this project could be the solution to a number of issues preventing the widespread adoption of battery-powered vehicles,” said Jakub Langr, co-founder of Hypermile.
A specialist in automotive autonomy, Hypermile is to head up the program. Spark EV will provide its range prediction technology, which will analyze variables such as traffic, weather and driver behavior to produce accurate data on how far the vehicle can travel before needing to be recharged. Replacing the driver with driver profiles in their prediction engine, depending on the journey requirements, is an important area of innovation for Spark as it begins identifying opportunities in the ADAS market.
Justin Ott, CEO of Spark EV Technology, commented, “Co-pilot will allow us to look at how different driver profiles can affect range accuracy and utility in autonomous electric vehicles. As the automotive industry continues its drive towards an electrified future, projects such as this will play a considerable role in the way we utilize these systems in both low-emission commercial and passenger vehicles.”