Friedrichshafen, 15 April 2019 – Airbus Defence and Space and ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a system provider for mobility, are collaborating to enrich and complement ZF on-board system to enhance autonomous driving by using Airbus satellite derived information. Under this collaboration, Airbus and ZF are combining their capabilities and expertise to offer a reliable end-to-end solution for self-driving and self-positioning vehicles. 

To answer the extreme level of accuracy required, Airbus provides its unique high precise Ground Control Points (GCPs), calculated using radar satellite imagery, to support the fusion of ZF sensor data such as Lidar and Radar. In addition, the GCPs serve as independent data source to improve and validate the accuracy of mobile mapping data. Furthermore Airbus investigates generation of High Definition maps (HD maps) based on aerial and space borne approach, to complement ZF semantic cards. HD Maps are key to ensure the guiding route, as they build an important link between mobile mapping data and global positioning systems. 

They contain more information than just the road itself, as lanes, the radius of curves, lane widths, street signs, bridges, and buildings, as well as their distance from one another. Both remote sensed information GCPs and HD maps will be integrated as foundation layers into the “ZF AD Environment” – an enhanced HD maps solution ZF will present soon – where all needed information for autonomous driving will be implemented in a cloud based system. Autonomous driving is a new, enthusing and challenging market for Airbus, as the highest level of autonomy requires the highest maps precision. 

About Airbus Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2018 it generated revenues of € 64 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide. About ZF Friedrichshafen AG ZF is a global technology company and supplies systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology, enabling the next generation of mobility. With its comprehensive technology portfolio, the company offers integrated solutions for established vehicle manufacturers, mobility providers and start-up companies in the fields of transportation and mobility. ZF continually enhances its systems in the areas of digital connectivity and automation in order to allow vehicles to see, think and act. In 2018, ZF achieved sales of €36.9 billion. The company has a global workforce of 149,000 with approximately 230 locations in 40 countries