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Driverless Car "Road Train" Successfully Tested

30 May, 2012

MessageToEagle.com - For the first time ever a road train comprising a Volvo XC60, a Volvo V60 and a Volvo S60 plus one truck automatically driving in convoy behind a lead vehicle has operated on a public motorway among other road users. The historic test in Spain was highly successful.

The vehicles travelled at 85km/h with a six metre gap between each car.

Volvo Car Corporation's Linda Wahlström said: "Driving among other road-users is a great milestone in our project. It was truly thrilling… We covered 200km in one day and the test turned out well. We're really delighted."

That existing vehicles could be easily adapted to the new technology was underlined by Wahlström who added: "We've focused really hard on changing as little as possible in existing systems.

Everything should function without any infrastructure changes to the roads or expensive additional components in the cars.

Apart from the software developed as part of the project, it is really only the wireless network installed between the cars that set them apart from other cars available in showrooms today."

Sitting in a car just six metres behind another one while traveling at 85 km/h and relying totally on the technology may feel a bit scary.

But the experiences gained so far indicate that people acclimatise very quickly.

The three-year SARTRE project has been under way since 2009. All told, the vehicles in the project have covered about 10,000 kilometres.

After the test on the public roads in Spain, the project is now entering a new phase with the focus on analysis of fuel consumption.

Image credit: Volvo

"We've learnt a whole lot during this period. People think that autonomous driving is science fiction, but the fact is that the technology is already here. From the purely conceptual viewpoint, it works fine and road train will be around in one form or another in the future," says Linda Wahlström.

She continues: "We've focused really hard on changing as little as possible in existing systems. Everything should function without any infrastructure changes to the roads or expensive additional components in the cars. Apart from the software developed as part of the project, it is really only the wireless network installed between the cars that set them apart from other cars available in showrooms today."

The project aims to deliver improved comfort for drivers, who can now spend their time doing other things while driving. They can work on their laptops, read a book or sit back and enjoy a relaxed lunch.

Naturally the project also aims to improve traffic safety, reduce environmental impact and - thanks to smooth speed control - cut the risk of traffic tailbacks.

@ MessageToEagle.com

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