Volvo has showcased its latest autonomous technology called the IntelliSafe Auto Pilot. The system uses a series of radars, cameras and laser sensors to allow the car to ‘read’ the road ahead. Seen in action on an XC90 SUV, the system features steering-mounted paddles that light up when the car reaches sections of road approved for autonomous driving. These approved sections are marked when the route is entered at the start of the journey.
To activate the system, the driver has to place his hands on the paddles for a set period of time after which the autonomous system takes over until the end of the approved section. Once the car reaches the end of the section, the system sounds an alarm for sixty seconds intimating the driver to take control, failing which the vehicle brings itself to a halt.
The technology is set to undergo public trials in 2017 with Volvo preparing 100 XC90s equipped with the system for testing on the roads in Gothenburg – a part of the company's Drive Me project. Using the tech, each car is expected to drive roughly over 45km on selected roads.
Volvo also revealed that the XC90s being used would be owned by existing customers with the company expected to start recruiting them next year. The trials for the autonomous technology will go on until 2019, with target year being 2020 for Volvo to release the first production vehicles with this software.