Look Ma, no hands! This is no idle jape from 70s pop culture. It is, in fact, a glimpse into the future. Audi plans to exhibit to the world, that the era of piloted driving is here. The company has organised a 900 km long drive from Silicon Valley in California to Nevada in Las Vegas, where Audi will showcase this path breaking technology at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
The A7 Sportback concept utilizes the latest technologically advanced systems developed by Audi, which will be tested by auto journalists, who have undergone prior training from Audi’s professional test drivers.
The A7 concept which has been named as “Jack” by the development team, can initiate lane changes, passing manoeuvres and allows the car to even accelerate and brake independently. The piloted concept A7 uses numerous radar sensors, laser scanners, 3-D video cameras, Audi Side Assist (ASA) and Adaptive Cruise Control, all of which work in precision to pilot the car safely.
While the system isn’t completely foolproof, it is self-aware of this fact. This is best exemplified by the in-built system wherein, before the piloted driving system encounters limitations, such as in-city driving for example, the driver is requested to take control of the car to ensure safety. Multiple warning signals work in unison to draw the driver’s attention to the car’s arrival within city limits. These include coloured LEDs at the base of the wind-shield, a Central Status Indicator (CSI) and acoustic warning signals. If the driver ignores these signals, the system activates its hazard lights and brings the car to a full stop in an effort to minimize risks.
Audi will showcase this technology at what is billed as the biggest electronic trade show the CES in Las Vegas from the 6th to the 9th of January 2015. Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Head of Technical Development, Audi, stated “The test drive from the west coast of California to Las Vegas demonstrates our leadership role in piloted driving. The test drive in real world traffic and road conditions represents a joint effort by the Volkswagen Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) and Volkswagen Group Research and Development.”
Story: Ryan Lee
