UK’s Oxford University researchers have tested a new robotic technology on Nissan Leaf electric car that allows the vehicle drive itself on long routes.
The move is aimed at developing everyday vehicles that can offer 'auto drive' during some parts of a journey, while reducing drivers' strain over negotiating traffic jams or regular commutes.
Oxford University'Department of Engineering Science professor Paul Newman said that the researchers are working on a low-cost 'auto drive' navigation system, that doesn't depend on GPS, done with discreet sensors that are getting cheaper all the time.
"It's easy to imagine that this kind of technology could be in a car you could buy,' Newman said.
The navigation system featured in the car can detect its surroundings through small cameras and lasers built into the body and connected to a computer in the boot, while allowing the car to take over when driving on already covered routes.
Additionally, the new technology is controlled from an iPad on the dashboard that allows the driver the option of the car taking over for a portion of a familiar route by switching to 'auto drive' and at any time a tap on the brake pedal will resume control to the human driver.
"Instead of imagining some cars driving themselves all of the time we should imagine a time when all cars can drive themselves some of the time," Newman said.
"The sort of very low cost, low footprint autonomy we are developing is what's needed for everyday use."
According to the researchers, the new self-driving car can deal with with snow, rain and other weather conditions and the system can be retrofitted on existing cars.
Currently being tested at Begbroke Science Park, near Oxford, the next phase of the project would involve allowing the robotic platform to recognise complex traffic flows and decide on its own about which routes to take.
The research project is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), while Nissan is offering cars for the research.
