Highly Automated and Connected Vehicles Update | Quick Hits
Automakers Tap VR to Banish Boredom in Autonomous Cars
Carmakers are banking on virtual reality (VR) experiences to keep occupants of autonomous vehicles entertained. Holoride, a startup co-founded by an Audi subsidiary, demonstrated potential virtual driving experiences including allowing passengers to swim with whales through sunken ships in the deep sea while on a drive. The VR glasses can also help users prevent motion sickness.
Volvo and Uber Unveil Production-Ready Self-Driving Vehicle
Under a 2016 joint engineering agreement, Volvo and Uber have developed a production car capable of driving itself, the Volvo XC90 SUV. The XC90 is equipped with backup steering functions, braking functions and battery backup power and is designed to immediately bring the car to a stop if the primary systems fail for some reason.
Read more at Financial Express >>
Self-Driving Cars, a New Mode of Surveillance?
Vera, Volvo’s electric autonomous vehicle, will transport goods from a logistics center to a port terminal in Gothenburg, Sweden, as a result of Volvo Trucks’ collaboration with ferry and logistics company DFDS. Vera transports have low noise levels and zero exhaust emissions and are monitored by an operator in a control tower to enable a seamless and constant flow to provide greater efficiency, flexibility and sustainability.
Read more at the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association >>
Eyesight Technologies and Ambarella Deliver Market-Ready Driver Monitoring System
Eyesight Technologies has partnered with semiconductor design firm Ambarella to deliver a driver monitoring system (DMS) to automotive manufacturers. The collaboration will deliver a market-ready driver state, action and recognition system to decrease accidents caused by distracted driving. Europe will require all of its five-star cars to have DMS by 2022 in order to combat distracted driving.
