On February 1, Huawei Aito introduced a significant update for its AITO Wenjie M5 and M7 models, rolling out the V3.3.8 smart driving version, which includes the long-awaited “Map-Free NCA” (Navigation Control Assistant). This feature, a notable advancement in autonomous driving technology, enables city driving assistance without relying on high-precision maps and is now supported in all 338 cities across Mainland China.
The “Map-Free NCA” function represents a leap in the evolution of intelligent driving systems, demonstrating Huawei’s commitment to developing cutting-edge automotive technologies. This update shifts from traditional reliance on high-precision maps, allowing for more adaptable and flexible driving assistance in various urban environments.
In addition to “Map-Free NCA,” the V3.3.8 update brings enhancements and new features to the AITO Wenjie M5 and M7 models. These updates include:
- Enhanced Lane Cruise Control (LCC Plus)
- Lateral Obstacle Collision Prevention (LOCP)
- Intelligent Follow-the-Vehicle Speed Limit Function
- Special Vehicle Model Recognition
- Smart Driving Status Island Function
- Huawei Smart Driving App Support
- Enhanced Traffic Capability Switch
- Valet Parking Function (AVP)
- Improved APA (Automated Parking Assistance)
- Various optimizations and bug fixes for other features and user experience.
Initially, the “Map-Free NCA” feature was made available to a limited group of 200 owners of the AITO Wenjie M5 and M7 models. Following this, the second batch of updates began, with a plan to gradually roll out to all owners subscribed to the ADS 2.0 advanced feature package.
Huawei had previously announced in 2023 that it would deploy the “Map-Free NCA” across the country by January 1, 2024. However, the release was delayed by a month, with the feature only being rolled out to users on February 1, 2024.
Huawei’s HarmonyOS Smart Travel stated that at the end of the year, Huawei ADS would upgrade to support the “Map-Free NCA” under the motto “Drive everywhere, the more you drive, the better it gets,” along with valet parking and other features. Leveraging Huawei’s significant investment in cloud computing power and AI cluster training, this upgrade is expected to rapidly evolve the capabilities and experiences of intelligent driving.
The updated version of NCA smart driving assistance, which no longer depends on high-precision maps, is now usable on highways, elevated roads, and expressways nationwide. Huawei explains that the NCA is based on the GOD (General Obstacle Detection) network and the RCR (Road Cognition & Reasoning) network 2.0 technology. These technologies enable precise handling with a 99% obstacle recognition rate and allow the system to understand complex road conditions autonomously.
Source: iTHome
