Qualcomm Applied sciences and BMW have formally launched Snapdragon Journey Pilot, a brand new automated driving system that marks the results of a three-year collaboration. The expertise made its debut within the all-new BMW iX3, and has already been validated to be used in additional than 60 international locations. Availability is anticipated to broaden to over 100 international locations in 2026.
The system is constructed on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Journey system-on-chips (SoCs) and the Snapdragon Journey AD software program stack, co-developed by each firms. Greater than 1,400 engineers and specialists throughout Germany, the US, Sweden, Romania, and the BMW Automated Driving Take a look at Middle within the Czech Republic contributed to its growth.
Concentrate on Scalability and Security
Each firms described Journey Pilot as a versatile and scalable platform that emphasizes security as its basis. The software program stack combines Qualcomm’s notion expertise with BMW’s drive coverage experience and is structured round three major parts: 360-degree notion, context-aware driving, and full compliance with world security requirements.
The 360-degree notion system makes use of cameras and radar in a chicken’s-eye-view structure, permitting for object detection, lane recognition, site visitors signal studying, parking help, driver monitoring, and mapping. Qualcomm says that the radar and digicam fusion is designed to chop down on latency in crucial conditions, notably in complicated city intersections.
Security and regulatory compliance had been central to the design, in keeping with the corporate. Snapdragon Journey Pilot meets Automotive Security Integrity Ranges and Practical Security requirements, whereas additionally addressing necessities from NCAP, FMVSS127, and DCAS. It integrates Security of the Meant Performance measures in addition to multi-layered cybersecurity, together with encryption and risk detection.
Context-aware driving is dealt with by means of a mixture of rule-based techniques and AI-driven fashions, permitting the automotive to foretell and plan for various eventualities on highways and in cities.
The “Superbrain” within the BMW iX3
BMW has branded the platform the “Superbrain of Automated Driving” to underline its significance within the Neue Klasse. Within the iX3, the Snapdragon Journey SoCs ship 20 occasions the computing energy of BMW’s earlier era driver help techniques, centralizing all automated driving features inside a single high-performance laptop.
The BMW iX3’s capabilities embrace freeway assistant options with hands-free driving on permitted routes, automated lane adjustments and overtaking triggered by delicate driver cues, and AI-assisted parking with slot detection. The system is supported by a community of high-definition cameras, radar sensors, mapping, and exact GNSS positioning, offering dependable 360-degree consciousness.
The iX3 can also be the primary BMW to make use of Qualcomm’s V2X 200 chipset, enabling vehicle-to-everything communication. By linking with different autos, highway infrastructure, and pedestrians, the system can detect potential hazards past the attain of standard sensors, enhancing each security and situational consciousness.
Designed to Evolve
Snapdragon Journey Pilot helps over-the-air updates through Qualcomm’s SDK, permitting the software program to be tailored and upgraded over time. Fleet information may also be used to refine the system repeatedly, making certain that the expertise can enhance all through the lifecycle of the car.
We had an opportunity to check the automated driving system within the new BMW iX3 again in June and you may watch that video proper under:
