Audi CEO Stadler meets G7 ministers: “Artificial intelligence can save lives”

A crucial breakthrough has been achieved at the International Motor Show (IAA) in establishing the legal framework of piloted driving and parking.

German transport minister Alexander Dobrindt presented his national strategy for this key technology on September 16 in Frankfurt. He also welcomed EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc and the transport ministers of the other G7 nations.

Using the new Audi A4 and the concept car ‘Jack’, he presented the current state of driver assist systems to the visitors. The chairman of the Board of management of Audi AG, Prof. Rupert Stadler, advocated “seizing this unique chance to save 900,000 lives per year, since more than 90% of all traffic accidents are caused by human error.”

The number of injuries in road traffic could also be reduced by 36 million each year, Prof. Stadler asserted. “Artificial intelligence can save lives, which makes it the key to greater traffic safety. Our technology is nearly ready for serial production, and with the help of policymakers we will bring highly automated driving to our roads, bit by bit.”

The Audi A8 will lead the way in 2017 with capability for piloted driving in stop‑and‑go traffic on the highway at speeds up to 60kph (37.3mph). The new legal framework is intended to allow drivers to abandon their driving tasks as long as the auto pilot is active.

At the presentation for the G7 transport ministers, Audi CEO Stadler described how much the latest A4 has already achieved. Its intelligent driver assistance systems offer a sample of piloted driving to come. This car prevents turning left into oncoming traffic, helps drivers maneuver to avoid dangerous situations, warns of side road traffic when backing up, assists with parking and ensures that passengers do not overlook cars when exiting the car.

In the United States, a driverless Audi TTS drove on a salt flat and also conquered Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains. Audi was the first car brand in 2012 to obtain the test license for piloted driving on public roads in the US state of Nevada. In 2014, an RS 7 Sportback tested the physical limits of driving without a driver on the Hockenheim racetrack. In early 2015, the A7 piloted driving concept completed a highway drive covering more than 900km from the West Coast to Las Vegas. A short time later, the technology platform coped with the task of driving in the heavy city traffic of Shanghai.

Audi says in April 2015, the German transport minister himself experienced the technical capabilities of the A7 piloted driving concept. After that, he announced “fully networked roads” as a long‑term goal that will reduce traffic jams and environmental pollution while optimising utilisation of the infrastructure.

The super brain of piloted driving is the central driver assistance control unit (zFAS). It uses the latest high‑performance processors, analyzes signals from numerous sensors in real time, calculates a 3‑D model of the surroundings based on this analysis and then decides how to manoeuvre. This enables the system to detect vehicles moving into the lane in front of the vehicle – much faster than a human is able to respond.