TomTom and Bosch develop map for autonomous vehicles

TomTom has collaborated with Bosch to develop a high-definition (HD) map with integrated radar road signature layer for the localisation of vehicles in autonomous driving. 

Working in conjuction with TomTom HD Map, the radar road signature layer will help autonomous vehicles to determine their precise location down to a few centimetres. 

TomTom CEO Harold Goddijn said: “We’ve been working hard to create the HD Map needed for autonomous driving, including localisation attributes such as TomTom’s RoadDNA.

“It’s exciting to be launching this additional localisation layer with Bosch in the form of the radar road signature, that greatly increases the robustness of localisation under all circumstances.” 

The standard maps rely exclusively on video data for vehicle localisation, but the Bosch radar road signature map can be used reliably even during night and in conditions of poor visibility. 

Radar road signature transmits only 5kB of data to a Cloud per kilometre, which is 50% the bandwidth required for video-based mapping.

Bosch board of management member Dirk Hoheisel said: "The radar road signature is a milestone on the path towards automated driving. It will enable automated vehicles to reliably determine their location at all times."

Bosch intends to introduce its Radar Road Signature in Europe and the US by 2020.