Audi begins testing systems for piloted driving in Florida

Audi has become the first carmaker in the world to conduct a public test of piloted moving car on an Expressway in Florida / USA, providing relief for the driver in slow-moving traffic up to 60kph.

"Even today, Audi offers many powerful driver assistance systems," says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi Board Member for Technical Development. "In the near future, new systems like piloted driving will follow. They support the driver when he is overwhelmed in complex situations or under-challenged in monotonous situations and thus each is not responding optimally to the road. The new systems for piloted driving can increase traffic safety considerably and further enhance driving comfort."

The new driver assistance systems for series production also include the storage pilot, which takes the driver in heavy traffic to 60kph from the driving task by the system automatically accelerated, decelerated and deflected and reacts cooperatively on other vehicles. When the traffic reduces or the end of the road is reached, the driver receives an invitation to take the helm again. If he does not, the system brings the car to a safe stop.

The pilot public trial in Florida took place on a section of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway in Tampa. In the experiment car, an Audi A7 Sportback, 22 sensors are active, including a new laser scanner. The data thus collected is processed by the central driver assistance system controller (ZFAS), which is similar to a tablet computer. In this high-performance unit, a complete picture of vehicle surroundings is permanently established on the basis of sensor data.