Volvo platoon running fully automated tests

Going platoon could be the new way to travel on highways, translated into practice in ten years and SARTRE project funded by the EU made its first successful demonstration of this technology to the test center Volvo of Sweden.

It is the first time SARTRE project development teams (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) are trying their systems outside the simulation. "We are very pleased to see that our various systems work together for the first time," said Erik Coelingh, engineer at Volvo Cars. "These systems come SARTRE seven members from four countries. Additional winter weather has tested cameras and communication equipment.

Riding vehicles in the platoon, as envisioned SARTRE project is a convoy of vehicles where a professional driver was in a car driving in front of other vehicles behind him. Each car measures distance, speed and direction and adjusted to the car in front, nothing special, just being a truck. But other vehicles that follow (in this case a Volvo S60) are completely autonomous and can leave the column at any time. But once it is in the platoon, the driver can relax and do other things while going to the remote destination column.

Tests included a platoon leading vehicle and one car from him. The steering column of the machine moves the column one, will smooth the car in front. The driver can drink a coffee or read the newspaper, not using your hands or feet in the operation of his car.

Walking in the platoon is developed primarily to improve safety, because it minimizes the human factor, responsible for 80% of road accidents. Second to minimize fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 20%. It is also useful because the driver has more free time for anything other than driving. Moreover, since the vehicles will run on the highway a few feet apart, running in platoon could release congestion.

Developing these technologies is still in its infancy but could go into production in a few years. What could take longer and is accepting public law, because 25 EU governments should make similar laws.

Source: http://www.volvo.com/

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