100 Self-Driving Volvos to Hit the Streets of Sweden

by  Lucas Mearian,  Computerworld 

Volvo Car Group’s “Drive Me” project expects to have 100 self-driving cars on the road by 2017, with the first prototypes already driving around the streets of Gothenburg, Sweden. The first prototypes are currently being tested, but they require the driver to continue monitoring the car’s performance. The roads being used by the test vehicles are typical commuter arteries, including motorway conditions and frequent queues.

“Our intention is that in the final product a driver can actually release the steering wheel without having to supervise so that he or she can do something else with their time,” says Volvo researcher Erik Coelingh.

Volvo’s self-driving cars use radar, cameras, and laser technology to monitor the surrounding environment. In addition, each car uses a private cloud map service of the roads in the area in order to have the most up-to-date data for the vehicle’s computer. The public pilot will provide Volvo with insight into the societal benefits of making autonomous vehicles a part of the natural traffic environment, according to Coelingh.

Volvo said that what makes its autonomous vehicle project unique from others — such as Google’s self-driving cars — is that it involves all the key players: legislators, transportation authorities, a major city, a vehicle manufacturer and real customers. Gothenburg has about 500,000 people.    Report