Honda has announced that it is currently developing a car with autonomous driving capabilities. Other Japanese carmakers that are also part of this pursuit include Toyota and Nissan, both of which aim to introduce their own autonomous cars around the time when Tokyo hosts the Olympics in 2020. Honda did not provide details about the vehicle’s capabilities, but it is said to operate in a fashion similar to that of Toyota’s Highway Teammate. In early October, Toyota unveiled its prototype of a self-driving car bearing the moniker, which is based on the Lexus GS. However, the Toyota concept was not completely autonomous as it could only go into full autopilot mode on its own when it enters a highway. Even then, it will only operate properly in areas that are equipped with the proper vehicle-to-infrastructure technologies. Carmakers are not the only ones looking to prepare their own driverless cars in time for the Tokyo Olympics. Startups like “Robot Taxi” are also … [Read more...] about Honda autonomous driving car to be ready by 2020
Autonomous driving cars
Autonomous driving cars: not as bad as you might think?
So Mercedes has identified autonomous driving as an area in which it wants to take leadership in the car industry, promising on the eve of the Frankfurt motor show to bring such a car to production this decade. It’s a bold claim, given the obstacles still to be overcome and outlined in our Mercedes Intelligent drive story, but you can see the logic for a premium brand car maker in offering cutting edge technology ahead of everyone else. After all, the Mercedes S-class has long been regarded as a technical showpiece – and this is just an extension of that. Should we worry as car enthusiasts that someone wants to take the joy of driving from us? I think not, simply because Mercedes folk are talking about this being a high-end option rather than a de rigeur fitment. And let’s be honest, the high-end cars where such technology is likely to arrive are not exactly known as cars to be driven anyway. What’s more, I can even see the benefit of it: I’d happily … [Read more...] about Autonomous driving cars: not as bad as you might think?
Volvo Cars and Uber to jointly develop autonomous driving cars
Volvo Cars, the Swedish premium carmaker, and Uber, the world’s leading ride-sharing company, are to join forces to develop next-generation autonomous driving cars. The two companies have signed an agreement to establish a joint project that will develop new base vehicles that will be able to incorporate the latest developments in AD technologies, up to and including fully autonomous driverless cars. The base vehicles will be manufactured by Volvo Cars and then purchased from Volvo by Uber. Volvo Cars and Uber are contributing a combined US$ 300 million (Rs 1,895 crore) to the project. Both Uber and Volvo will use the same base vehicle for the next stage of their own autonomous car strategies. This will involve Uber adding its own self-developed autonomous driving systems to the Volvo base vehicle. Volvo will use the same base vehicle for the next stage of its own autonomous car strategy, which will involve fully autonomous driving. The Volvo-Uber project marks a … [Read more...] about Volvo Cars and Uber to jointly develop autonomous driving cars
Volvo Cars to launch advanced autonomous driving experiment in China
Volvo Cars is planning to launch an advanced autonomous driving experiment in China, where local drivers will test autonomous driving cars on public roads in everyday driving conditions. Volvo expects the experiment to involve up to 100 cars and will in the coming months begin negotiations with interested cities in China to see which is able to provide the necessary permissions, regulations and infrastructure to allow the experiment to go ahead. The Swedish automaker believes the introduction of autonomous driving technology promises to reduce car accidents as well as free up congested roads, reduce pollution and allows drivers to use their time in their cars more valuably. Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo has also scheduled a seminar in Beijing today entitled 'Autonomous driving – could China take the lead?' Samuelsson will welcome the positive steps China has taken to put in place to develop autonomous driving technologies, but will also encourage … [Read more...] about Volvo Cars to launch advanced autonomous driving experiment in China
Volvo Cars’ ambitious ‘Drive Me’ public autonomous driving experiment takes off
Volvo Cars has officially kicked off Drive Me, the world’s most ambitious and advanced public autonomous driving experiment. This morning it produced the very first autonomous car that will be used in the Drive Me project in Gothenburg. The autonomous Volvo XC90 SUV was finalised in Volvo Cars’ special manufacturing facility in Torslanda this morning and is the first in a series of autonomous cars that will eventually be handed to real families in Gothenburg to be driven on public roads. Volvo is the industry leader in the area of automotive safety and believes the introduction of AD technology promises to reduce car accidents. Furthermore, AD technology promises to free up congested roads, reduce pollution and allows drivers to use their time in their cars more valuably. The Swedish carmaker currently offers a semi-autonomous functionality called Pilot Assist on its 90 series cars. Pilot Assist gives gentle steering inputs to keep the car properly aligned within lane … [Read more...] about Volvo Cars’ ambitious ‘Drive Me’ public autonomous driving experiment takes off
Ghosn shares ‘truth about Autonomous Drive cars’
Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn is delivering a message about autonomous driving that's less mixed than it sounds on the surface.As part of his public dialogue from LinkedIn's "Influencer" series, Ghosn said in a company announcement that "hands-free" driving is part of the Japanese automaker's "near-term technology." In fact, cars that can self-drive in heavy, stop-and-go traffic, may be ready for the market by late 2016. That should please texters everywhere. 2018 may be the year cars with lane-changing, hazard-avoiding capabilities will see the light of day, while by 2020, Nissan may feature a "complete package" of autonomous-driving features, Ghosn writes. As for the proverbial driver-less car? That's at least a decade out but ultimately likely, according to Ghosn.Nissan said early last year that some autonomous versions of its vehicles may be available in the US by the end of the decade, and that it was in talks with California regulators about the idea of self-driving cars on the … [Read more...] about Ghosn shares ‘truth about Autonomous Drive cars’
Tesla CEO Elon Musk likes autonomous driving cars, but prefers term ‘autopilot’
Tesla might be hiding more in its software than blind spot detection and adaptive cruise control. According to Bloomberg, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is "discussing" autonomous cars with Google, specifically the Lidar laser tracking system. Oh, and if you're going to have a self-driving future Tesla vehicle, then you shouldn't call it autonomous. Instead, Musk prefers the term autopilot. As he told Bloomberg, "Self-driving sounds like it's going to do something you don't want it to do. Autopilot is a good thing to have in planes, and we should have it in cars."Any Tesla robot chauffeur is a ways away – Musk Tweeted it is "still a few years from production," but Google has been working hard on driverless cars (with green cred, too, since the test mules are mostly Toyota Prius hybrids). In fact, the search company says the technology could be ready for prime time in as little as three to five years – though safety regulations and other logistical questions will likely push that … [Read more...] about Tesla CEO Elon Musk likes autonomous driving cars, but prefers term ‘autopilot’
Mercedes F 015 Luxury in Motion self-driving car at CES
If you thought your S-class could practically drive on its own, wait until you see the new Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion concept car.It’s an autonomous luxury car affording a peek into the self-driving future. Appropriately enough, considering the legions of microchips on board, it was shown at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.Click here to read about Google's self-driving car.Forget the futuristic, lozenge-like shape of the carbonfibre and aluminium F 015 - this car is all about reinterpreting modern luxury for the connected world.Daimler says its focus ‘shows how the automobile is changing from a means of transportation to a private retreating space.’ Useful that, when it predicts that 15 new megacities with more than 10 million inhabitants will spring up worldwide over the next 15 years.So this car is all about turning the vehicle into a private lounge. Four armchairs rotate and swivel like those in a Viano, so you can configure the cabin … [Read more...] about Mercedes F 015 Luxury in Motion self-driving car at CES
Volvo’s autonomous test in China will improve all self-driving cars
autonomous vehicle production. The latest development comes from Chinese-owned Volvo, which announced a large-scale experiment in the People's Republic that could involve up to 100 autonomous vehicles. This study has big implications for consumers all around the world. Automakers love the extreme testing environments in Death Valley, CA and Arjeplog, Sweden – it will be the same with China, but for congestion instead of climate. It's a safe bet that the data gathered driving in China's insane traffic will make your future auto-piloted slog up the 405 during rush hour possible.Details of this new study are scarce – Volvo doesn't mention a start date or even a list of locations where it will conduct testing. The company is negotiating with "interested cities" in a bid to score permission, appropriate regulations, and the proper infrastructure. According to Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson, it's that last one that's proved most difficult regardless of the region."There are … [Read more...] about Volvo’s autonomous test in China will improve all self-driving cars
GM Buying Aftermarket Autonomous-Driving Tech Company
GM announced today that it is snapping up Cruise Automation, a company that makes roof-mounted, aftermarket apparatus that can provide autonomous-driving capability to existing vehicles. In a statement announcing the deal, GM said it was acquiring the three-year-old, San Francisco–based startup “to further escalate GM’s development of autonomous-vehicle technology.” GM also said it would be making additional investments in the company, which “will operate as an independent unit within the recently formed Autonomous Vehicle Development Team.”Presumably, then, GM wants to tap Cruise Automation’s autonomous-driving smarts to speed the arrival of the technology in GM cars. (Cadillac’s semi-autonomous hands-free Super Cruise feature, which was to debut this year, is now set to arrive in 2017.) There’s no mention whether Cruise Automation will continue to pursue its aftermarket application—the market for such a device would be huge, … [Read more...] about GM Buying Aftermarket Autonomous-Driving Tech Company