Engineering On The Edge

Volvo has posted some fresh video of its autonomous vehicle “road train” technology.

As we reported back in June, Volvo is testing the road train concept on public roads in Spain. The SARTRE (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) project is predicated on the notion that a line of cars operating in unison can provide fuel savings, improve safety, and allow drivers to relax and enjoy a hands-free ride to their destination.

The road train was tested on a Spanish highway for 124 miles in May. The lead truck, along with a Volvo S60, V60, and an XC60 traveled at 53 mph. The company considers the tests finalized, although there is no timetable set for moving the technology beyond the pilot phase.

As Volvo notes, there are “several issues to solve before road trains become a reality on European roads,” said Erik Coelingh, technical specialist at Volvo. “[Volvo] is particularly focused on emergency situations such as obstacle avoidance or sudden braking. However, we are convinced that road trains have great potential.”

You can view the new video below:

Source: Drivers Drive