BMW Motorrad says the futuristic cars (self-driving) will do a better job at spotting riders than current drivers do. And that these futuristic cars will be more efficient than people in control of their vehicles.
In an interview, BMW Motorrad’s head of development Karl Viktor Schaller says that motorcyclists will have a better future on the roads thanks to fewer people being in control of their vehicles. “Self-driving cars would mean a dramatic enhancement in safety for the motorbike, and it would guarantee a wider user group.” The idea is that when motorcycles and cars will be able to communicate with each other, “We can use that to build an electronic safety cage around a motorbike,” Schaller said.
Just last week, the German automaker unveiled its Motorrad Vision Next 100, a self-balancing bike prototype the company released as part of its 100th anniversary celebrations. The zero-emissions bike has self-balancing wheels designed to stand upright even at complete stop and with stability that the company says, will allow helmet-less riding.
BMW has not made this motorcycle autonomous, unlike the Vision Next 100 car. This should not come as a surprise because Schaller was quoted saying, “We are not about going from A to B; motorbikes are about going from A to A. Our business is pleasure.”
Source - Financial Review
