Driverless car technology is what the hype is about nowadays, and car maker Audi plans to make a new breakthrough with another version of an autonomous car. It is a car that learns from humans.
The German brand is currently testing what it calls "piloted driving" on a modified A7, according to The Audi Cars magazine. The new test car, called "Jack," has an on-board computer and operates not relying on a pre-programmed set of instructions. It observes how other cars (with human drivers) navigate the highway and adjusts accordingly to learn becoming a natural driver itself.
Audi's "Jack" has been giving way to trucks and allowing enough space prior to passing them, as well as moving closer to lane markings when switching. Just like any human driver.
The car maker is not a newbie into joining the self-driving car bandwagon, considering Tesla has pioneered the onslaught of electric cars on public roads a few years already. However, Audi tested a driverless TTS previously, which in turn left its mark at Pike's Peak. Also, the company has been doing driverless tests on U.S. city roads such as Las Vegas.
The research car also has a new feature aside from being "co-operative," according to an Audi media statement. On an expressway, "Jack" exhibits a more relaxed temperament in terms of other passenger cars wanting to get on the public road at the same time. Its navigation system could also look for another route and is able to thrive with other drivers without hassle.
"Jack's" piloted driving nature is mainly due to its zFAS, or central driver assistance controller chip. The super high-tech performance of these processors allow the Audi research car to make use of real-time sensing and to create a picture of its traffic situation.
Audi also intends to use the same kind of technology on the Audi A4, apart from the A7. The company also aims to introduce Car-to-Car communication between cars, driverless or not.
