Heading 1: Porsche’s Nardo Technical Center to Develop Autonomous Vehicle Technology
Porsche has announced that its Nardo Technical Center (NTC) in southern Italy will now have a software development division focused on autonomous vehicles. The facility, which is owned by Porsche, is most famous for its high-speed, circular test track. The new division will develop “highly automated” driving functions, vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, and connectivity functions.
Heading 2: The Importance of Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Technology
Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure technology will be crucial in allowing automakers to develop autonomous technology. By having vehicles communicate with each other, as well as with the road network, they don’t need to depend on what their sensors can see in their immediate vicinity alone. This has the potential to make autonomous vehicles’ operation safer.
Heading 3: Real-Time Testing at the Nardo Test Track
Porsche says that the Nardo Technical Center’s circular test track will be used to test the technology developed by the new software division in real-time. The track is 7.8 miles (12.6 km) long and is known for its high-speed capabilities. This will allow Porsche to test its autonomous technology under a variety of conditions.
Heading 4: The Location of the Software Division’s Office
The software division’s office will be located in nearby Lecce, which Porsche says has a deep talent pool. This move will help settle the NTC into an integrated technology hub that is closely linked to Porsche Engineering’s development and validation network.
Heading 5: Antonio Gratis’ Statement
Antonio Gratis, Managing Director of NTC, said that “digitally-enabled functions will play a crucial role in the future of the automotive industry.” He added that “with our new software division, we can develop and test these kinds of functions for our customers directly on site.”
Heading 6: The Significance of the 5G Network
The announcement of the software development division comes shortly after a 5G network was installed at the Nardo Technical Center. This high-speed network will allow Porsche to test its autonomous technology in real-time and under a variety of conditions.
Heading 7: Porsche’s Pride in the Region
“We are proud to establish the software division in this prestigious area,” said Gratis. “We have profound ties to this region, to its people and the potential they possess, and we are proud that the digitalization of the automotive industry also leads through this territory.”
Heading 8: Conclusion
Porsche’s Nardo Technical Center is set to become an innovative lab for the development of state-of-the-art technology for autonomous vehicles. The new software development division will focus on developing “highly automated” driving functions, vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, and connectivity functions. The Nardo test track will be used to test the technology developed by the new division in real-time. The location of the software division’s office in nearby Lecce will help settle the NTC into an integrated technology hub that is closely linked to Porsche Engineering’s development and validation network.