Autonomous driving is an important topic for Volkswagen Research. The last decade has seen several driver assistance systems come to market that improve the handling in dynamic driving situations. Driver assistance systems such as Electronic Stability control, Electronic Parking Assistance and Adaptive Cruise Control have all been designed and implemented to make the task of driving safer, easier, and more enjoyable.
“While fully autonomous driving may be a possibility for the future, it is not Volkswagen’s intent to replace the driver,” said Huhnke. “By pursuing a stretch goal, such as an autonomously driven vehicle, we are able to advance certain aspects that will be of use in more conventional and current driver assistance and safety systems.”
For this year’s DARPA Urban Challenge, the autonomously-driven Passat wagon – named ‘Junior’ in homage to Leland Stanford Jr., founder of Stanford University – will compete on a 60-mile mock urban course that involves merging with traffic, crossing traffic circles and negotiating busy intersections while following traffic laws.
Volkswagen of America’s ERL helped outfit the fuel-efficient Passat wagon TDI with computer-controlled electromechanical power steering and electric throttle, gear shifter and parking brake. Custom mountings for the wide array of sophisticated sensors were also designed and built at the ERL. Intel Core 2 Duo processors, with multiple processing units per chip, make up the car’s “brains.” Together with the software developed at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab, the car will be truly autonomous.
0 comments:
Post a Comment