#automated driving

[itcars]

Audi Customers Experience Piloted Autobahn Driving 

Audi is providing the public with insight into the mobility of the future. With drives on board an Audi A7 piloted driving concept, selected brand customers and fans will get their first experience of piloted driving on the A9 north of Munich.

The customer trips in the Audi A7 piloted driving concept, nicknamed “Jack,” start in the myAudi Sphere at Munich airport. The route goes via the A9 – part of the “Digital Motorway Test Bed. With a normal traffic flow, the piloted journey takes around 60 minutes. An Audi expert is always on board. After the journey participants are asked for their opinion, with their impressions incorporated into the development of future automated driving functions.

The opportunity to ride in “Jack” started on July 20, 2017 and run through to August, 2017. Potential test drivers are targeted via various communications channels, including the social media sites run by Audi Germany. At the same time, Audi Business Innovation GmbH has raffled places to users of its premium mobility service Audi on demand. Participants in the “Miles and More” program can also swap accumulated miles for a trip in “Jack.”

Audi has already used the A7 piloted driving concept test vehicle on three continents since 2015. On the A9 it can drive at speeds up to 130 km/h (80.8 mph). It accelerates, brakes and changes lane predictively and smoothly while cooperating with other road users.

The experience from the test drives with “Jack” has been incorporated into the development of piloted driving. The highlight here is the central driver assistance controller (zFAS) which uses signals from all the sensors to continuously generates a detailed image of the surroundings. The zFAS – the size of a laptop – is fitted for the first time as standard in the new Audi A8. The luxury sedan was premiered last week at the Audi Summit in Barcelona and has been developed for highly automated driving as per SAE Level 3. The Audi AI traffic jam pilot will allow the driver to hand over the driving task to the car on freeways in slow moving traffic at speeds up to 60 km/h (37.3 mph).

[marknspark]

Is Truck Platooning the Future of Freight Transport?

The rapid emergence of the Truck Platooning Market is revolutionizing how we perceive long-haul logistics and highway safety. U.S. Truck Platooning Market is estimated to record a revenue of USD 800 million in 2026 with value reach around USD 7,917 million by 2036 with a CAGR of 26.1% during the forecast period. By linking two or more trucks in a convoy through state-of-the-art connectivity, the industry is significantly reducing aerodynamic drag and lowering fuel consumption. This technological leap is not just about cost savings; it represents a fundamental shift toward a more synchronized and data-driven transportation ecosystem that prioritizes road throughput.

Evolution of the U.S. Truck Platooning Market

The strategic growth of the U.S. Truck Platooning Market is heavily influenced by the integration of Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). These systems allow trailing trucks to automatically react to the braking or acceleration of the lead vehicle with near-zero latency. As fleet operators face mounting pressure to reduce their carbon footprints, the ability to shave 10% or more off fuel expenses becomes an irresistible proposition. Furthermore, the development of Level 4 autonomous features is paving the way for semi-autonomous convoys that can operate with minimal human intervention on dedicated freight corridors.

Technical Synergy and Roadway Safety

Modern platooning systems rely on a complex web of LiDAR, radar, and camera sensors to maintain a constant and safe following distance. This digital tethering reduces the "accordion effect" often seen in heavy traffic, leading to smoother traffic flows and fewer rear-end collisions. Beyond safety, the reduction in air turbulence for the following trucks translates directly to decreased engine wear and extended vehicle lifespans. Engineers are currently focusing on perfecting the hand-off protocols that allow trucks to join or leave a platoon seamlessly without disrupting the surrounding passenger vehicle traffic.

The transition toward automated convoying marks a significant milestone in achieving industrial efficiency and environmental sustainability. By adopting these high-tech logistics solutions today, the trucking industry is ensuring a more reliable and cost-effective supply chain for the future.

[smartcartechhub]

Automated Car Navigation Systems: Your Digital Co-Pilot Revolution

Discover how automated car navigation systems are becoming the digital co-pilot that's changing the way you travel....

Discover how automated car navigation systems are becoming the digital co-pilot that's changing the way you travel....

[drag-tween]

Tesla and other ‘self-driving’ cars are changing Utah roads — sometimes with fatal consequences, lawsuit alleges

A recent Utah lawsuit that focuses on a 2022 Tesla crash that killed a motorcyclist on Interstate 15 in Draper challenges the safety of Tesla’s Autopilot feature, alleging the electric car manufacturer has lulled drivers into a “false sense of safety”

Incidentally, Elon Musk's Tesla company just issued another recall of its CyberTrucks –– the fifth truck recall in 2024...