The new Audi A8 luxury sedan is a high-tech beast that can drive itself

SAE automated vehicle classifications:

• Level 0: Automated system issues warnings but has no vehicle control.
• Level 1 (”hands on”): Driver and automated system shares control over the vehicle. An example would be Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) where the driver controls steering and the automated system controls speed. Using Parking Assistance, steering is automated while speed is manual. The driver must be ready to retake full control at any time. Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) Type II is a further example of level 1 self driving.
• Level 2 (”hands off”): The automated system takes full control of the vehicle (accelerating, braking, and steering). The driver must monitor the driving and be prepared to immediately intervene at any time if the automated system fails to respond properly. The shorthand ”hands off” is not meant to be taken literally. In fact, contact between hand and wheel is often mandatory during SAE 2 driving, to confirm that the driver is ready to intervene.
• Level 3 (”eyes off”): The driver can safely turn their attention away from the driving tasks, e.g. the driver can text or watch a movie. The vehicle will handle situations that call for an immediate response, like emergency braking. The driver must still be prepared to intervene within some limited time, specified by the manufacturer, when called upon by the vehicle to do so.
• Level 4 (”mind off”): As level 3, but no driver attention is ever required for safety, i.e. the driver may safely go to sleep or leave the driver’s seat. Self driving is supported only in limited areas (geofenced) or under special circumstances, like traffic jams. Outside of these areas or circumstances, the vehicle must be able to safely abort the trip, i.e. park the car, if the driver does not retake control.
• Level 5 (”wheel optional”): No human intervention is required. An example would be a robotic taxi.

Audi claims the A8 is the first production car to reach Level 3 autonomy

Audi just unveiled its new A8 luxury sedan in Barcelona, and as you would expect from the German automaker, this car is brimming with high-tech features. There’s a brand-new infotainment system, fully active electric suspension, and a mild hybrid engine. But at the top of the list is Audi’s claim that the A8 is the first production vehicle with Level 3 autonomy, which would make it one of the most highly automated cars on the road when it goes on sale next year. Moreover, Audi is the latest carmaker to double down on self-driving software in the race to bring a fully autonomous vehicle to market.

AUDI SAYS THE A8 IS CAPABLE OF DRIVING ALL BY ITSELF AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 37 MPH

In Audi’s parlance, the A8’s autonomous features translate as the “AI traffic jam pilot,” meaning the car can take control of the driving in slow-moving traffic at up to 60 kilometers per hour. The system is activated by a button on the center console, and it can take over acceleration, braking, steering, and starting from a dead-stop, all without the driver paying attention.

Let that sink in for a second. Using a combination of LIDAR (another first for a production car, Audi claims), a front-facing camera, radar, and ultrasonic sensors, Audi says the A8 is capable of driving all by itself at speeds of up to 37 mph. There are a couple caveats, obviously. The traffic jam pilot only works on highways with a physical barrier separating oncoming traffic, and the use of the system is subject to the laws of whichever jurisdiction you’re driving through. So bone up on the rules of the road before pressing that button.

This would put Audi far ahead of competitors like Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, and Cadillac, which all have semi-autonomous driving assist systems on the market, but also all require some level of driver attention and engagement with the steering wheel. Audi is saying that drivers can take their hands off the steering wheel “permanently” while the traffic jam pilot is engaged, which is sure to raise concerns from regulators and safety advocates. Automakers and tech companies are currently debating among themselves about how much autonomy the driving public can currently handle, and the release of the A8 is sure to send those talks into the stratosphere.

DRIVERS CAN TAKE THEIR HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL “PERMANENTLY”

Audi says it is rolling out this feature “gradually,” but isn’t going into much detail about what that means. The automaker, which is owned by Volkswagen, says it will be adopting “a step-by-step approach to the introduction of the traffic jam pilot in production models.” I assume that means you shouldn’t expect to flip on the highly automated system as soon as you drive out of the dealership. Audi likely wants to avoid a situation like what Tesla confronted when it first rolled out its semi-autonomous Autopilot system, where drivers uploaded videos of themselves sitting in the backseat while their cars drove themselves.

That said, Audi is actively encouraging its drivers to test out the A8’s new self-parking feature from outside the vehicle. Using the MyAudi smartphone app, drivers can remotely summon or park their car while watching a live display on their device using the A8’s 360-degree camera. “The driver need not be sitting in the car,” Audi says.

Audi showed off a version of its self-parking feature back in 2013 at CES. Back then, an Audi A7 was guided by an array of laser scanners embedded in the parking garage that communicated to the car over Wi-Fi, keeping it abreast of its precise location and any obstructions nearby. The A8’s ability to self-park in a setting without embedded sensors communicating with the car speaks to how much progress Audi has made with this feature.

Another interesting feature is the A8’s 48-volt active, electromechanical suspension platform. Depending on the driver’s wishes and the driving situation, it is capable of raising or lowering each wheel separately with electric actuators. This becomes extremely handy in a crash situation. In combination with front-facing camera, the car can be raised “with lighting speed if there is an impending lateral collision,” Audi says, reducing the potential consequences of the accident for all occupants.

Audi’s new MMI infotainment system features multiple touchscreens with haptic feedback that physically and audibly click when touched. Drivers can also use voice control to get directions or select a particular song. Audi powers its infotainment systems with Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, as well as 4G LTE and Wi-Fi. (The Verge recently reviewed the interior of the 2017 Audi S3 if you want a more in-depth look at Audi’s in-car screens.)

Audi has been working with graphics card processor Nvidia on self-driving technology and has plans to begin selling Level 4 autonomous vehicles by 2020. In the meantime, the A8 is a big step forward in advanced driving technology, and it’s sure to be a strong competitor for Tesla Model S and Mercedes S-Class vehicles in the luxury market.

@info credits AUDI

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Nissan to introduce connected cars in India by July Mid 2017

Nissan Connected Cars To Be Launched In India By Mid-July

Nissan will launch the Micra, Sunny, and Terrano in India this July with advanced connected car functionalities. The cars will go on sale by mid-July this year. Customers will be able to connect to their cars via an app and will offer features such as vehicle service reminder, GPS tracking, and vehicle diagnostics.

he launch of the connected car feature is in line with Nissan’s global ‘Intelligent Mobility’ program. Also, India will soon get the hybrid X-Trail. There are also chances that Nissan could bring the Leaf to India.
With the launch of the connected cars program, manufacturers can access certain data like the vehicle’s running condition, which can help them reach out to customers to offer better service.

The move is in line with Nissan’s global ‘Intelligent Mobility’ plans, which Nissan India is closely working under.

Nissan is all set to upgrade a select number of vehicles from its India portfolio with advanced telematics and connectivity services. The new technology is being first rolled out to the Micra, Sunny and the new Terrano, which will all fall under the purview of Nissan’s connected car ecosystem.

The aforementioned cars will go on sale from mid-July, reports Autocar India. The cars will include the necessary hardware for connectivity, and use an accompanying smartphone app to offer advanced servicing details, vehicle diagnostics and GPS data. Nissan is already working on connected car technology under its global Intelligent Mobility plans for its future, and the three connected car offerings in India will fall under its purview. The new technology will offer car owners with live, detailed vehicle dynamics, computed service reminders in accordance with how the cars are driven, and advanced GPS data to show live traffic details and call for support easily by identifying car location from within the car or its smartphone app.

With connected cars going hand in hand with clean energy solutions, Nissan is now also expected to introduce the hybrid powertrain variant of the X-Trail SUV in India, to take on the likes of Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan. Nissan will also be looking to streamline its servicing solutions, keeping live tab of cars and service requirements with the connected car platform. This move will oppose the preference of Indian car owners to opt for third party service providers due to less expensive services.

 The new ecosystem is expected to be rolled out in about two months, following which it will be interesting to see how other car makers roll out their own offerings with connected car services, and how each synchronise with each other.