Volvo’s Road Train Links Driverless Cars Together

Are you ready to give up control of your car for safety? Volvo hopes so as it develops its “road train” technology.
 
In a road train, multiple cars are “connected” by wireless technology to drive in packs on highways. One lead vehicle (with a “professional” human driver) sets the train’s speed, and other vehicles can link to the lead vehicle. On-board systems in the following vehicles would autonomously steer, accelerate, and apply the brakes as necessary. In theory, this would reduce the number of accidents caused by driver error on highways, and could allow drivers to nap or watch movies while behind the wheel.

“Road trains allow a driver to use their time better, drive safer, reduce congestion and improve the environment,” Broberg told Autocar. “You’re always following another car, so why not let the driving be done by someone else?”

Although he admitted there are legal and safety hurdles to surmount, Broberg said Volvo plans to test road trains on public roads in Sweden later this year. The company tested a road train composed of two vehicles in Sweden in January, and hopes that this technology will pave the way for fully autonomous cars.

Development of road trains is being funded by a European Commission program called Safe Road Trains for the Environment (SARTRE.) The SARTRE project is coordinated by U.K. engineering group Ricardo, with collaboration from several European universities and technical consultancies, as well as Volvo Cars and Volvo Trucks Corporation.

According to SARTRE, the vehicles in a road train will travel much more closely than human drivers safely can, potentially alleviating congestion. Close following distances and consistent driving manners are also said to reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent. SARTRE claims 80 percent of car accidents are caused by driver error, so road trains are expected to drastically improve highway safety. The group says road train “technology development is well underway and can most likely go into production in a few years time.”

Volvo Trucks Corporation– which is a separate company from Volvo Cars — has previously outlined a similar vision for autonomous semi trucks, which would drive themselves in road trains at 56 mph. Not only could truck drivers rest on long journeys, but the Volvo Concept Truck 2020s are designed to “draft” each other, thus reducing fuel consumption.

It’s no secret that Volvo Cars has long made its name on safety innovations. Now the company’s goal is for zero Volvo vehicles to be involved in car accidents in the year 2020. According to chief designer Anders Gunnarson, advanced accident-avoidance technologies will mean cars never crash, so they will be designed without extensive crumple zones and passive safety equipment.

“This means we designers can use these areas to create a stimulating, more attractive environment for driver and passengers,” Gunnarson said in a statement.


via Volvo, Autocar courtesy of Motor Trend Staff

Read more: http://blogs.automotive.com/6762441/concept-cars/volvo-s-road-train-links-driverless-cars-together/index.html#ixzz1NOw1dXe5

From the logbook: 2012 Volvo S60

Since purchasing our 2012 Volvo S60 T5, we’ve had lots of time and miles behind the wheel to get acquainted with Volvo’s latest sedan. So far, our $35,100, front-wheel drive, 250-hp T5 hasn’t disappointed us.

The previous S60 was long in the tooth and was never competitive in its class. Of course, it competes in a tough segment against the likes of Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Have a look at the car’s logbook for a candid look at the staff’s first impressions of how the S60 measures up:

“Great steering response - quite good feel and nicely weighted.”

“Big fan of this car - light feeling, nimble, fast, and fun.”

“Ride is on the stiff side but less so than typical Volvos.”

“Plenty of power, but the inline five-cylinder engine isn’t very refined with its characteristic growl.”

“Really like the engine’s mid-range response - want to punch it all the time.”

“Getting 28 mpg without really trying.”

“Silly two-step ignition process.”

“Roomy driving position…lots of knee, leg, and head room.”

“Interior is somber and, while fit and finish looks good, it’s a whole collection of different surfaces that sometimes seems jarring.”

“No real fatigue after 3-5 hours in car.”

“Great seat, although it could use more lumbar.”

“Seat heaters are slow to warm and not that hot.”

“Rear seat is surprisingly small.”

“View out of the rear window is good in traffic, but the high rear deck is troublesome for reversing.”

“Shocking that there’s no back-up camera [on our $35K car].”

“Seems more competitive than ever but still somewhat unexciting.”

“Like this better than the [redesigned] Saab 9-5…and it’s cheaper.”

“I really like driving this car and much prefer it over an A4.”

Just like how Sally Field reacted to her Oscar for “Places in the Heart” - “I can’t deny the fact that you like me! Right now! You like me!” - we’re impressed with Volvo’s latest effort. It delivers a much more sophisticated ride and better handling than any other previous Volvo. Significantly, though, this new S60 also elicits comments you don’t expect, summed up with this logbook entry: “Best. Volvo. Ever. Fun to drive!”

Read More: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/05/from-the-logbook-2012-volvo-s60.html