Self-piloting vehicles

Date: 4/3/2010

Source: ‘Future Vision’, Intertraffic World, Annual Showcase 2010, pg. 118-121

In the longer-term future, vehicles are expected to become fully automated, enabling drivers to relax, read a book or take a nap. However, there have already been some demonstrations of self-piloting vehicles.  Heathrow is soon to get a ‘Personal Rapid Transit’ system using ‘podcars’ to drive users around the airport site.

The advantage of these self-piloting vehicles is that they can make better use of road-space and react faster and in a more co-ordinated fashion than a human driver.  A fully automated highway could all but eliminate road accidents.

At the moment, technology is only advanced enough to assist drivers, but it is a step along the way.  Nissan is developing a distance control-assist system that helps drivers to keep the appropriate distance from vehicles in front and automatically applies brakes when needed.

Keywords: Cooperative vehicle systems, Incident, In-vehicle systems, Safety