Autonomous vehicles are all the hype in today’s marketspace and something most manufacturers are working towards. The newest marque to join the bandwagon is Jaguar Land Rover, and in typical Brit flair, it’s going all out with plans of creating over 100 research vehicles over the next four years.
You might also be interested in: Jaguar Land Rover SVO benefit from dedicated Technical Center
While initial tests will focus on vehicle-to-vehicle / vehicle-to-infrastructure communication technologies, the first batch of vehicles is to be driven on a 66km route covering motorways and city roads in and around Coventry and Solihull, later in the year.
Tony Harper, Head of Research, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Our connected and automated technology could help improve traffic flow, cut congestion and reduce the potential for accidents. We will also improve the driving experience, with drivers able to choose how much support and assistance they need. In traffic, for example, the driver could choose autonomy assist during tedious or stressful parts of the journey.
Roadwork Assist, one of many technologies that the brand is working towards, uses a forward-facing stereo camera to generate a 3D view of the road ahead and to recognize cones and barriers. In turn, the system then applies a small amount of steering assistance to the wheel, to help the driver remain in the center of the lane.
Safe Pull Away, on the other hand, is an assistance system which aims at reducing low-speed collisions. Using a stereo camera to monitor the area directly in front of the vehicle, the system receives signals from the throttle pedal that could potentially end in a crash, and automatically applies the brakes while offering the driver an audible warning.
You might also be interested in: Jaguar F-Type SVR Confirmed For Geneva Motor Show
Other impressive technology in the pipeline is Jaguar Land Rover’s Over the Horizon Warning and Emergency Vehicle Warning. While the former uses radio signals to transmit relevant data from vehicle to vehicle, the latter allows ambulances, police cars, and fire engines to communicate with other vehicles on the road much before they even appear in sight.
Needless to say then, that Jaguar Land Rover’s research is undoubtedly going to make the roads a safer place to be.
Also See:
