World News: Audi Looking into Driverless Car

What once seemed to be the stuff of science fiction – a car that can safely operate without direct input from a driver – is rapidly moving from the realm of science fiction toward reality. This is being clearly demonstrated with the Autonomous Audi TTS coupe research project, which has become a sensation worldwide.

This car is the direct result of work underway at the Volkswagen Group Automotive Innovation Laboratory – or VAIL – a collaborative effort set up by the Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Laboratory in Palo Alto, Calif., and Stanford University to advance automotive technology.

The Autonomous Audi TTS project isn’t aimed at making motorists and the thrill of driving dispensable. Instead, it is intended to explore the best capabilities of current and future driver assistance technologies to help Audi enhance the experience behind the steering wheel for generations to come.

Dr. Burkhard Huhnke, executive director of the Electronics Research Laboratory, has noted that the technology found in the Autonomous Audi TTS could help dramatically reduce the number of fatalities worldwide. He also notes that it will help motorists respond more effectively to changing traffic conditions to reduce road congestion and allow better reactions to safety hazards. Taken to its logical potential, Dr. Huhnke noted, the technology could return time to the cars‘ owners by taking care of routine driving chores, such as winding through a parking garage to an assigned spot each morning.

Credits: wilswong