Autonomous driving & parking
Help shape the future of autonomous driving with ESAS.
Development of piloted driving:
The project in the field of driver-assisted driving focuses on the development of autonomous driving systems for use on highways. Such a function (SAE Level 3) has a degree of automation that enables it to handle most traffic situations independently. Only in exceptional cases will the driver be asked to regain control of the vehicle.
ESAS automotive GmbH has been working on this project for more than five years and plays a key role in its development. With the integration of software and automation in the field of development tools, the company began its long-term development work on automated driving on highways in the Ingolstadt area. Within a very short time, the company was able to establish a strong presence in this field thanks to the high standards it sets for its work. As a result, not only did the number of employees grow, but so did confidence in our solutions.
Development of piloted parking:
The area of piloted parking encompasses several customer functions, ranging from advanced systems that take over partial routes in parking environments and assist with navigation to the parking space, to the fully piloted function (SAE Level 4), in which the driver leaves the vehicle at the entrance to the parking environment and the vehicle, in coordination with the car park infrastructure, autonomously drives to a parking space, parks and then drives back to the pick-up point on its own.
To make this possible, a number of technical requirements must be met in the vehicle and, in some cases, in the parking environments themselves.
Since 2013, ESAS automotive GmbH has been supporting automotive manufacturers in various phases of their development projects. From concept development and the prototyping of modules, to the integration of functions in simulation and test vehicles, up to presentations to the press and customers, we cover a wide range of expertise. Our focus is always on quality and customer satisfaction.
Areas of expertise
Vehicle-related software integration
As part of the development of assisted or automated driving functions (e.g., a parking assistant or highway pilot), software modules must be integrated into the whole vehicle stack and tested in live operation at every stage of development. Vehicle-related software integration is therefore a critical area in which an understanding of both software and vehicle-related operations is equally essential.
Software & module development
For many years, software has been integrated into vehicles to make driving on public roads as comfortable and safe as possible. As the demands on the system increase, so does the complexity of the software. From automation tasks using scripting languages to complex, standalone software modules, we are working to shape the future of the automotive industry.
Sensor data processing
A core component of assisted and piloted driving functions relies on the quality of the sensors, which perceive their environment as precisely as possible. A variety of sensor types enables the most accurate detection of dynamic and static objects in the vehicle’s surroundings. The information provided by the individual sensors must be filtered and fused so that the software can make the most accurate decisions possible.
Localization algorithms
The foundation of autonomous driving is the vehicle’s ability to navigate its surroundings and know where it is. We support the development of camera and radar based localization algorithms. We also work on GPS reference systems based on correction data (DGPS).
Mapping semantics
Detailed, lane-level map information is becoming increasingly important for autonomous driving functions. This includes information on the route, traffic rules, and parking spaces, as well as more abstract environmental features such as poles, curbs, and signs that help the vehicle navigate its surroundings. With a focus on parking environments, we are contributing to the standardization of map elements and providing map data for various autonomous functions during development.
Showcases
In addition to the actual development work, it is often necessary to provide a vision of the future and present the development goals to both the client’s management and executive board, as well as to the public. Through our broad experience, we support showcases across a wide range of fields, can make adjustments to the software, plan scenarios, and provide technical support and oversight for them.
Jobs for autonomous parking and driving
As a young engineering company in the automotive industry, we aim to make an impact.
Frequently asked questions
The basic requirement is a university degree in engineering or computer science. If you are a state-certified technician but have also worked on and completed many programming projects alongside your training, please still get in touch and show us what you can do. We are always looking for motivated people who enjoy learning new things and want to develop themselves on their own initiative. A Class B driving licence would be desirable, as the activities often include tests in vehicles.
The work on the “Autonomous Driving & Parking” projects covers many different and exciting topics. At its core, the work involves integration tasks with varying degrees of programming. Depending on the task, we work closely with the vehicle, integrating, testing, and experiencing the latest advancements in autonomous driving directly on the road. Depending on the customer’s requirements, we also implement larger software modules that require a longer-term commitment. When assigning tasks within the team, we are flexible in accommodating our colleagues’ preferences, provided that the current range of tasks allows for it.
We work closely with our customer and their development partners. This requires implementing and integrating software into the current test vehicles. Test drives and experiencing the autonomous driving function are essential for evaluating the success and quality of our work.
After initial contact and a technical assessment, there will be an on-site appointment where you will have the opportunity to meet your potential colleagues at their workplace. As team spirit is very important to us, getting to know the applicant and introducing them to the team is just as important as their professional qualifications.
It is important to us that new colleagues spend at least three months on site with the team. On the one hand, this promotes team spirit, and on the other hand, we believe this rule is important for comprehensive training. After that, depending on the task, it is possible to make individual home office arrangements. These are always discussed with the team so that there are no disadvantages for the other members and the work can be carried out in the best possible way.