Bosch pushes Level 3 autonomous driving with AI and by-wire

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The vision of the robot car, which largely takes care of itself and turns humans into passengers, is becoming more tangible. Assisted driving at Level 2 is already part of everyday automotive life for many. Bosch is now pushing the decisive transition to highly automated driving (SAE Level 3). At this stage, responsibility shifts from the human to the machine in specific application cases. The driver can take their hands off the steering wheel, take a nap, and look away from the road – a technological advancement that goes beyond comfort functions.

At Bosch, the path to autonomy leads via a new approach. Earlier, rigid, rule-based programming reaches its limits in the complex reality of road traffic. The company's answer is: artificial intelligence in every software module. By using AI, the vehicle can react much more flexibly to unpredictable situations, it is said. Coupled with a redundant safety architecture that immediately takes over if a system fails, Bosch aims to create a basis of trust for Level 3 after many unsuccessful attempts by other automotive manufacturers and suppliers.

The goal is a system that operates reliably at speeds of up to 120 km/h, even under difficult conditions such as poor visibility. According to Bosch, the driver will thus regain valuable time – whether on the highway or on multi-lane expressways in conurbations. The technology, according to the supplier, not only takes over lane keeping but also independently initiates lane changes and coordinates acceleration and braking.

When milliseconds decide on safety

An important building block of this “new freedom” is the vehicle's ability to swerve quickly and precisely in emergencies. With the “Autonomous Emergency Steering” function, Bosch, together with a Chinese vehicle manufacturer, has reportedly developed a system that closely integrates driver assistance and vehicle control within just six months. If the braking distance is no longer sufficient to avoid a suddenly appearing obstacle, the "Vehicle Motion Management" takes over. Within milliseconds, the brake, steering, and drive are to be coordinated in such a way that the vehicle swerves stably – a feat that even experienced drivers could hardly achieve under stress.

With such functions, the supplier wants to demonstrate that it can deliver software and hardware from a single source. From the high-performance computers and the seventh-generation radar sensors to the algorithms, the entire chain is designed to make the complexity of autonomous driving manageable. Trial operation is to take place in China: Since March, the group has had the license to test vehicles with Level 3 functions in real-world operation in Wuxi, near Shanghai.

By-Wire: The digital skeleton of the car

To ensure that software commands are converted into mechanical movement without delay, Bosch relies on by-wire technologies. In these systems, known from aircraft cockpits, there is no longer a physical connection between the pedal or steering wheel and the wheels. The transmission is purely electronic. Bosch sees this as a fundamental requirement for the future “software-defined vehicle.”

The maturity of the technology is particularly evident in the Brake-by-Wire system. With two independent braking units, Bosch aims to create the redundancy necessary for Level 3. Steering also benefits: Steer-by-Wire enables variable steering ratios that adapt to the respective driving situation – from relaxed maneuvering when parking to high-precision feedback at high speeds. From mid-2026, these systems are to go into series production and be used in individual transport and on robotaxi platforms.

Global scaling as a goal

Level 3 development is currently gaining momentum, primarily in the dynamic environment of the Far East. However, the Swabian company's strategy is globally oriented. Bosch wants to use markets with high innovation speed, mainly in China, as a testbed to transfer findings worldwide. A Level 3 system that relieves the driver has enormous potential on the wide highways of the USA as well as on the motorways of Europe.

(nie)