Audi flaunts piloted driving technology: A7 to do 900km with minimal human input [+Video]



Remember Bobby? The affectionately named Audi RS7 Sportback that lapped the Hockenheim ring in October last year? Or better known as the very car to perform a complete lap on full racing speed without a driver. If you don’t, watch the highlights of this incredible technological milestone in the video below.

On the more recent side of events, the Audi A7 Sportback or Jack, as named by Audi, will ferry a small group of journalists from California to Las Vegas where the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will be held. During the 900km journey, Jack will be subjected to numerous real world driving conditions.

Audi A7 Sportback

 

Jack is equipped with Audi’s latest driver’s aide technologies which are close to making production. It uses the Adaptive Cruise Control’s (ACC) long-range radar sensors and Audi Side Assist (ASA) to produce a digitally constructed 360-degree view, and will perform accelerating, braking, lane changing and overtaking manoeuvres based on computational data.

Audi A7 Sportback

 

Jack is also capable of driving from 0 to 110 km/h independently, that means it drives without any form of driver input. As a safety measure however, Jack’s autonomous driving mode will be overridden in city driving conditions. If the driver fails to disable the autopilot mode, so to speak, Jack will automatically bring the car to a full stop on the right emergency lane until the driver assumes his or her driving duties.

550 Meilen pilotiert vom Silicon Valley nach Las Vegas: Langstrecken-Test im Audi A7 Sportback piloted driving concept

The journalists who will be part of this 900 km piloted test drive will each cover about 160 km, supervised by a professionally trained Audi test driver, just as an added safety measure.

This piloted test drive is a joint collaborative effort between Volkswagen Electronics Research Laboratory and Volkswagen Group Research and Development. At the 2015 CES, Audi will also showcase their new user interface, laser-matrix lighting technology and two world premiers – a new car and the interior of the all-new Audi Q7.

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IMAGE GALLERY