Although some companies are now approaching "map-free" intelligent driving solutions, maps remain the infrastructure in the intelligent driving field. High-precision maps are not merely sensors; they can provide road information that sensors like LIDAR cannot. When a driver activates advanced intelligent driving, the vehicle can obtain the road environment ahead in advance, providing a certain level of redundancy protection for safety.
With the improvement of perception capabilities in intelligent driving systems, dynamic information in high-precision maps, like road congestion and temporary traffic signs, is easier to obtain through perception systems than before. However, for more complex data such as lane gradients and curvatures, reliance on maps is still necessary. This demand has driven the introduction of lightweight high-definition maps, which reduce the topological elements in the original high-precision maps, alleviating the pressure on data storage and transmission, meeting the lightweight map solution choices of companies like XPeng, Xiaomi, and the GAC Group.
For consumers, the presence or absence of high-precision maps is not the most important aspect. The real key is their actual driving experience. With the widespread adoption of advanced intelligent driving functions in urban areas, car manufacturers may gradually abandon maps in the future. However, at the current stage, many car companies still choose to use maps as a safeguard to ensure the auxiliary function of advanced intelligent driving capabilities.
High-precision maps were once considered an indispensable key technology in the intelligent driving field, but now they face a new definition. Even though companies are attempting to navigate without maps, maps can still provide relatively accurate road information and continue to play an important role. It is expected that companies will not completely abandon map surveying, but the evolution of any technology must be built on a solid foundation of safety and compliance.