Volkswagen is conducting a level 4 autonomous driving trial in Hamburg, Germany, testing five autonomous e-Golfs on a three-kilometre route.
The project is being carried out by Volkswagen Research Group, which wants to use it to test Level 4 autonomous driving in practical conditions. For the test, about five e-Golfs, electric variants of the Volkswagen Golf, have been fitted with laser scanners, cameras, ultrasonic sensors and radar systems. Volkswagen hopes to benefit from the results of the test in other Volkswagen Research Group research projects.
Level 0 to 5
Level 4 is the second-highest level of a self-driving car. Knowledge centre CROW uses the following definitions for these levels:
- Level 0 - no automation: The driver performs all driving tasks, but may be supported by warning systems or systems that intervene in the driving task, such as adaptive cruise control.
- Level 1 - driver support: A system partially takes over operational driving tasks such as steering, braking and accelerating. All other dynamic driving tasks are the responsibility of the driver.
- Level 2 - partial automation: A system takes over all operational driving tasks such as steering, braking and acceleration from the driver. In addition, tactical driving tasks are taken over from the driver to a limited extent. Thus, at this level, the driver is still closely involved in driving the vehicle.
- Level 3 - conditional automation: A system takes over all operational driving tasks and some of the tactical and strategic driving tasks from the driver. If necessary, the driver should be able to take control of the system directly.
- Level 4 - highly automated: A system takes over all operational tasks and some of the tactical and strategic driving tasks from the driver. At this level, the driver can focus his attention on other things, as the system does not assume that a driver will react adequately to take control of the vehicle at all times.
- Level 5 - fully automated: A system takes over all operational driving tasks, all tactical driving tasks and some of the strategic driving tasks from the driver. This level is suitable for all conceivable road and environmental situations, which means, among other things, that the driver can hand over control to the system in all weather conditions.
Test route
A three-kilometre test track is currently available for the autonomous e-Golfs. A nine-kilometre test route for autonomous and connected vehicles in Hamburg is also in the pipeline, to be completed in 2020. The route will include traffic lights equipped with components enabling communication to and from vehicles. Through the route, information will be collected simultaneously to optimise traffic flow using digitalisation.
The e-Golfs used for the test are equipped with 11 laser scanners, seven radars and 14 cameras. During regular test drives - which soon take several hours - up to five gigabytes of data are sent per minute. This data is processed locally using a computer system placed in the boot of the vehicle. This system has as much computing power as about 15 laptops, according to Volkswagen.
During the test drives, the e-Golfs are driven by specially trained test drivers. These drivers monitor the vehicles' driving functions and intervene when necessary to prevent accidents and ensure safety.
Digital ecosystem
"The tests focus on the technical possibilities and requirements of urban infrastructure. To make driving in future vehicles even safer and more comfortable, vehicles must not only become autonomous and intelligent, but cities must also provide a digital ecosystem that allows vehicles to communicate with traffic lights, traffic management systems and each other," explains Axel Heinricht, Head of the Volkswagen Research Group.
"In two and a half years, Hamburg will host the World Congress for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). Automated driving will play a key role. I am delighted that our strategic partner Volkswagen is already becoming the first user of our digital test platform. We want to make Hamburg a model city for intelligent mobility and present various innovative mobility projects to the global public in 2021," said Michael Westhagemann, senator for economy, transport and innovation.
Aurora Innovation
Volkswagen is collaborating on autonomous driving with Aurora Innovation, a US company developing technology for self-driving vehicles. Volkswagen wants to use Aurora's technology to accelerate the development of its autonomous vehicles. The focus is on making these vehicles available in urban areas.
The two companies announced in January 2018 their intention to jointly set up a service called 'Volkswagen Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)'. This service will allow users to order a self-driving electronic vehicle to take them to a desired location. Users will not have to invest in this vehicle themselves and will only pay for its use.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source: Volkswagen (photo)
Source: CROW
