The new Volkswagen ID. Buzz impresses with innovative assistance systems

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz¹ can perform an assisted lane change on the motorway when the turn signal lever is briefly pressed. It can use swarm data or also learn repetitive maneuvers for parking. The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is launched with new intelligent assistance systems that can make driving even more comfortable while increasing safety. This is in line with Volkswagen's commitment to make the latest technologies accessible as early as possible to an expanded customer base.

"In ID. Buzz, iconic design meets innovative technology and this is reflected in the new comfort and driver assistance systems. We are taking the next step forward on the road to highly automated driving using swarm data in the next-generation Travel Assist," explains Kai Grünitz, Volkswagen Board Member responsible for Evolution. "This approach is in line with Volkswagen's commitment to offer high-quality technology and innovations in as many of its models as possible."

Volkswagen uses fully integrated state-of-the-art assistance systems in the ID. Buzz. The optionally available Travel Assist with swarm data ^¾ and Park Assist Plus with memory function ³ are the best examples. These systems can be optionally fitted to all other new models in the ID series, from ID.3² and ID.4 to ID.5.

 

 

Travel Assist by swarm data^3/4

The optional Travel Assist can keep the vehicle in the lane, maintain a constant distance from the vehicle ahead and ensure that the vehicle maintains the maximum speed set by the driver (Adaptive Cruise Control - ACC). Among other things, it uses the active lane guidance system (Lane Assist) for this purpose. This system keeps the vehicle firmly in the middle of its lane. Travel Assist adapts to the driver's driving style and can thus keep the vehicle further left or further right in the lane instead of exactly in the centre. Travel Assist also features cruise control with predictive cruise control (pACC) and cornering assistance. In this case, the vehicle's speed can be adapted to the legal speed limits and the shape of the route (bends, roundabouts, etc.).

 

 

The new possibilities of the Travel Assist

Εάν είναι διαθέσιμα ανώνυμα swarm data από άλλα μοντέλα της Volkswagen, το νέο Travel Assist μπορεί να χρησιμοποιήσει μόνο μία καθορισμένη σήμανση λωρίδας δρόμου για να κρατήσει το όχημα στη λωρίδα. Σε αυτήν την περίπτωση, το σύστημα υποβοήθησης μπορεί να είναι διαθέσιμο σε επαρχιακούς δρόμους χωρίς – για παράδειγμα – κεντρική διαγράμμιση λωρίδας. Η αποτελεσματικότητα του Travel Assist αυξάνεται ακόμη περισσότερο χάρη στην χρήση swarm data, βελτιώνοντας την άνεση και το επίπεδο υποβοήθησης προς τον οδηγό.

 

 

Swarm data from its fleet of cars Volkswagen

Using swarm data, Volkswagen is taking the next step towards fully automated driving. The anonymised swarm data is generated from several hundred thousand Volkswagen Group vehicles. To do this, the fleet of vehicles also collects information with specific characteristics from the area around the vehicle - such as signage lines and road signs - and automatically transmits this information to the cloud. From there, personalized data is sent to participating Volkswagen models that are driving at the same time on the respective sections of the route. The database and the data distributed are constantly growing thanks to the large number of vehicles participating in the program.

 

 

Assisted lane change from 90 km/h.

When driving on motorways at speeds above 90 km/h, Travel Assist using Swarm data can actively support lane changes (Side Assist) if the driver wishes. When activated, the lane change process can be initiated and executed by pressing the turn signal. To complete the function, the sensors must not have detected objects around the vehicle and the steering wheel must be able to detect that the driver's hands are on it. The ID. Buzz is then automatically steered into the selected lane. The driver can intervene at any time and take control of the vehicle.

 

 

The Park Assist Plus with memory function (memory function) ³ allows the vehicle to move autonomously in parking spaces

The second optional assistance system in the ID. Buzz is Park Assist Plus with memory function. This innovative driver assistance system can be used to teach the vehicle up to five individual parking manoeuvres. The memory function "remembers" parking procedures at speeds below 40 km/h and can cover distances of up to 50 metres. This allows the vehicle to park in an open space or garage, for example. The driver only has to park the vehicle once and save the parking procedure. The ID. Buzz can then repeat the learned parking manoeuvre on its own. All the driver has to do is monitor the progress of the process.

After activation in the Parking menu, Park Assist Plus³ can also search for a parking space and perform the parking manoeuvre. When driving next to parking spaces, the intelligent assistance system identifies suitable parallel parking spaces at speeds of up to 40 km/h and vertical parking spaces when driving at speeds of up to 20 km/h. The driver only needs to stop at the selected parking space, press the brake, activate the function and monitor the parking process. The assistance system parks the ID. Buzz with the help of sensors that monitor the surrounding area - it turns, accelerates, brakes and changes speed. It can also continue parking maneuvers initiated by the driver and complete them if possible. The system also provides support when the vehicle needs to exit parallel parking spaces.

Wide range of driver assistance systems

In addition to Travel Assist with swarm data and Park Assist Plus with memory function, the ID. Buzz also features other driver assistance systems that can help increase driving safety. The following assistance systems are standard equipment: Distraction support³ (Swerve support), Braking the vehicle in the opposite direction when turning³, Driver Alert System³ (Driver Allert System), Automatic emergency braking³, Front Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Monitorin³, Lane Keeping System Lane Assist ³, Recognition of traffic signs³ (Dynamic Road Sign Display) and the Danger Alert Function³, where vehicles inform each other of critical situations via the Car2X communication protocol. Other assistance systems are available as options. These are Adaptive Cruise Control ACC with stop & go³ (see Travel Assist for the functions included), the anti-theft alarm system with internal monitoring, Keyless Advanced locking and starting system, Park Assist Plus³, the Area View³ and the Side Assist lane-change system³.

 

³The driver assistance function can only be used within the limits of the system. The driver must always be prepared to override the assistance system. These systems do not relieve drivers of their responsibility to drive with due care and attention. The function can be deactivated at any time.

⁴Travel Assist with Swarm data. The system can be used up to the vehicle's top speed. Only in combination with navigation system. Only in combination with an active We Connect licence. The web-based part of Travel Assist with Swarm data can only be used when there is mobile phone network coverage and if the relevant privacy settings have been activated. The web leg can be deactivated at any time in the We Connect ID. app. The web leg of Travel Assist is available in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.