Volvo recently wrapped up with their Safe Road Trains for the Environment (SARTE) project, which provided a realistic have a look at what autonomous driving could look like using today’s technology. The program, which tested the implementation of road trains – or “platoons,” as Volvo called them – on conventional highways. The program was developed in hopes of allowing drivers to have the best of both worlds in terms of multi-tasking and ultizing public transportation – all in the comfort of your personal vehicle.
Volvo used a manually driven semi-truck to lead the pack, that has been followed by another truck and three Volvo passenger vehicles, as the only participating car manufacturer in SARTE. These passenger vehicles included two S60 cars and an XC60 sport utility vehicle. The exam demonstrated that the lead vehicle, with an experienced driver that is thoroughly knowledgeable about the route behind the wheel, can allow others in tow to mimic the lead vehicle’s movements by using electronic driving aides. The idea also allows others to sign up with the road train at any point through the route, from which time the autonomous vehicle control systems would take over, allowing the operator to relax as a passenger.
Volvo was able to attain the feat by utilizing several different technologies, some already are present in production vehicles. Based on Volvo Technical Specialist Erik Coelingh, the business expanded the capabilities of the camera, radar, and laser technology systems currently used in present safety systems like Adaptive Cruise Control, City Safety, Lane Keeping Aid, Blind Spot Information System, and Park Assist Pilot. These systems were made to work in conjunction with other new features added specifically for the test. These included a prototype human-machine interface that included a touch screen for displaying vital information and doing requests, like joining and leaving the road train, as well as a vehicle-to-vehicle system that lets vehicles inside the train contact one another.
In the test, all vehicles behind the lead truck were driven autonomously at speeds up to 55 mph. Sometimes, vehicles in the train maintained a distance of only four meters, or simply more than 13 feet, apart. Why so close? Vehicles driving in close proximity with each other are able to produce a slip-stream affect (think drafting) to achieve a lesser drag coefficient. Combined with reduced speed variations normally linked to driving in traffic, this could increase fuel efficiency by 10-20%.
The company’s long-term vision is to make a transportation system using their road train method in a way that is far more attractive and cozy than leaving your own personal vehicle behind to use public transportation. To do so, the organization hopes to integrate the ability to book, join, and leave the street trains by making use of Volvo’s Sensus Infotainment system. While Volvo insists the technology is production-ready, the device must first become more cost-effective.
But nevertheless, don’t expect to see autonomous vehicle trains on the road near you anytime soon. Volvo’s Coelingh says that there are several issues to fix on Europe’s roads first before road trains develop into a reality. However, the test did include a major study to determine what infrastructural changes are necessary in Europe to begin using the system in daily life.
