Video: BMW impresses with its new self-driving motorcycle

If self-driving cars and trucks were not enough, a new self-driving, rider-less motorcycle has debuted too, manufactured by the renowned automaker BMW.

CES 2019 was not only for big tech companies, as the German automobile manufacturer BMW showed off self-riding motorbike that can even pull the stand by itself when it comes to a stop.

The rider-less BMW R1200GS independently drives off, accelerates, circles a winding test track, complete figure of eights, slow down and kicks out a stand when coming to a stop, detailed BBC Top Gear.

BMW’s motorbike has been in work since 2014, however, the goal is not to bring such a bike for mass production and public consumption. Instead, the goal is to use separate pieces of the technology to help motorcycles navigate a streetscape where other autonomous vehicles are on the road, to develop safety features for riders, and add assistance, or autonomy to a bike for riders.

“The intent is not to deliver pizzas, or have the next Uber. Instead, it will help the rider be a better rider, as well as help them in a world of self-driving vehicles, where communication between cars will be key,” said Michael Peyton, the vice president of the Americas for BMW Motorrad.

Video Courtesy: BMW Group/Facebook

“The idea is to support the rider, not to take him out of the game,” said BMW Motorrad team member Felix Deissinger.

Unlike other autonomous vehicles, BMW’s bike did not relied on LIDAR sensor or other such equipment. Instead, the bike drove with the help of a remote human controller with the speed being set up beforehand, wrote Popular Mechanics.

For rider-less riding, the team began with a normal stock bike and integrated a motor for steering along with automating elements such as the clutch. The bike features side panniers loaded with computers in order to make sure it doesn’t topple over and controls itself.

Peyton believes that possible applications for this technology could possibly include adaptive cruise control for motorbikes. It would also be helpful during motorcycle-car communication. “If the motorcycle was communicating with the car, then the car would know, ‘oh, there’s a motorcycle in this space,” Peyton said.