BMW Is Testing A Vehicle That Can Be Controlled With A Smartwatch

In the 1997 movie Tomorrow Never Dies, James Bond (played by Pierce Brosnan) jumped into the back of his high-tech BMW and controlled it using a Nokia  cellphone so that he could dodge bullets without having to drive himself. I was reminded of that scene when I found out that BMW is now working on an i3 research vehicle that can be controlled using a smartwatch.

At the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next month, BMW will be demonstrating a research vehicle that is equipped with the Remote Valet Parking Assistant feature. The i3 research vehicle is fully automated and can park itself in multi-storey garages. It also has laser sensors to ensure 360-degree collision avoidance. BMW’s self-driving technology paves the way for vehicles on fully automated mode without a driver and accident-free mobility with passengers. BMW was able to successfully achieve fully automated control by connecting laser sensor systems and digital site plans of the multi-storey garages.

Once the driver uses his or her smartwatch to activate the Remote Valet Parking Assistant, the i3 will automatically drive to its parking space in the multi-storey parking garage, lock itself and wait to be summoned by the smartwatch. The smartwatch will let the research vehicle know what the exact time will be when the driver arrives back at the parking garage so that it automatically meets him or her at the exit. The i3 research vehicle has four laser scanners that records the environment and recognizes the obstacles such as construction cones. If the vehicle approaches a wall, it will hit the brakes. The driver can easily override the vehicle automation when he or she wants to.

BMW pointed out that the automation of the vehicle is independent of GPS signals -- which tend to struggle in parking garages. The processors and algorithms used within the vehicles ensures that they can determine its exact position and avoid obstacles so parking garages do not need specialized infrastructure.

Another project that BMW is working on involves emergencies while driving. BMW’s Emergency Stop Assistant feature activates if the driver collapses due to a medical emergency like a heart attack. BMW Emergency Stop Assistant puts the vehicle into an automated mode and steers to the side of the road. Then the Emergency Stop Assistant calls emergency services for help.

Vehicle automation is the wave of the automotive industry future. Google has self-driving cars and now BMW is building cars that can be summoned using smartwatches. Forget James Bond, I feel like we are not far from living like The Jetsons.

What are your thoughts about the ability to control a vehicle using a smartwatch? Let us know in the comments section below!