Volvo Cars introduced a system designed to integrate self-driving cars into real traffic, with ordinary people behind the wheels.
Volvo's new production-viable autonomous driving system uses cloud-based positioning systems, intelligent braking; steering technologies, and complex network of sensors.
The Autopilot system is capable of taking over all aspect of driving in autonomous mode.
Volvo Car Group Research and Development senior vice president Peter Mertens, "We are entering uncharted territory in the field of autonomous driving."
"Taking the exciting step to a public pilot, with the ambition to enable ordinary people to sit behind the wheel in normal traffic on public roads, has never been done before."
Initially, the cars are expected to drive autonomously on selected roads without pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
However, Volvo claimed to have designed the system to handle complicated real life driving scenarios.
The system will guide the driver when a particular situation goes beyond its capabilities, and if the driver fails to respond on time, then the car will come to an automatic stop.
"Developing a complete technological solution for self-driving cars is a major step.
Volvo Cars technical specialist Dr. Erik Coelingh said: "Once the public pilot is up and running, it will provide us with valuable knowledge about implementing self-driving cars in the traffic environment, and help us explore how they can contribute to sustainable mobility.
"Our smart vehicles are a key part of the solution, but a broad societal approach is vital to offer sustainable personal mobility in the future.
"This unique cross-functional co-operation is the key to a successful implementation of self-driving vehicles."
The company previously introduced Drive Me project to roll out over 100 self-driving cars on selected roads around Gothenburg by 2017.
Image: Autonomous drive technology- Cloud-based 3D digital map. Photo: Courtesy of Volvo Car Group.
