Audi begins testing its piloted driving system

Driver-assistance systems have multiplied in recent years. It is a fact that must be accepted, and it is already part of drivers’ everyday lives.

Audi already has nearly ready the next step in assistance systems, whose highest expression today is the piloted driving assistant.

Audi has already begun testing this system, with fantastic results. In fact, the four-ring brand has become the first manufacturer to carry out a real test of its system in traffic. The test took place in Florida, USA.

The assistant that Audi is fine-tuning is focused above all on reducing driver fatigue in situations of traffic jams, queues and slow-moving traffic. It is designed for motorways and wide roads, where the piloted driving system is capable of keeping all the parameters that allow the vehicle to move under control.

For the test, an A7 Sportback was fitted with all the sensors and systems necessary for its operation, achieving outstanding performance that allows the driver to reduce fatigue and stress noticeably. The assistant is capable of taking over the accelerator, brakes and steering, so that up to 60 km/h the driver can enjoy a much lower level of demand than usual.

When the motorway ends, speed starts to increase or the traffic jam clears, the system asks the driver to take back control of the vehicle. If the driver does not respond, the car will progressively reduce its speed until it stops completely safely, both for the driver and for the vehicles around them.

This system consists of 22 sensors, including an innovative laser scanner, as well as a control unit which, thanks to the latest technological advances, has been reduced in size to that of a conventional tablet. With all the information collected, the control unit generates a constant virtual image of the vehicle’s surroundings, which is vital for the optimal operation of this piloted driving system.

Source | Audi