Posted on 04/11/2007 9:50:56 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
A car driven by a hi-tech ghost of laser sensors and computers went on exhibit in London Wednesday, before it competes against other robot cars in the United States in November.
The Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI drives using two eye-like laser sensors in the front and one in the back that scan road conditions, buildings, other vehicles and pedestrians over a range of up to 200 metres (650 feet).
An on-board computer digests and acts on the information using software developed by the Hamburg, Germany-based Ibeo Automobile Sensor company, said company experts displaying the car at the Science Museum in London.
In November, the car will compete against other driverless vehicles in the third annual US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Urban Challenge over a 60-mile course in America.
"We are competing against the world's best in terms of automobile technology," Ibeo chief executive Ulrich Lages said.
"Although we are a relatively small team and, unlike the big players, do not have a large budget, we believe we have a great chance at DARPA 2007," he said.
"Our innovative laser technology gives us a lead of several years over our prospective rivals, especially in the field of object and environmental detection," he said.
Christened LUX, the refitted Volkswagen that looks exactly like a standard road model is due to go into small-scale production next year and the firm hopes that its technology can eventually be used in production cars.
At a conference in the US city of San Francisco in February, scientists predicted robot-driven cars could be shuttling humans around by the year 2030.
Karen Tippkotter, the Team-LUX marketing manager, exhibits the DARPA Urban Challenge driverless car at the Science Museum in London. A car driven by a hi-tech ghost of laser sensors and computers has gone on exhibit in London, before it competes against other robot cars in the United States in November.(AFP/Chris Young)
Someday computers will make it so "safe" that driving yourself will be illegal (and impossible since cars will not be built for it).
Last year's winner:
You said it.
I enjoy driving. I am one of those folks who enjoys being in the driver’s seat and paying heed to sensations in the steering wheel and the sounds of the engine.
Life is risk and risk can be fun and rewarding.
I remember in high school sometimes cruising with the driver on the floor, and sitting in the back giving directions. Drove the old fogies next to us nuts.
Another good reason to build more freeway lanes instead of a high-speed railroad!
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