In the future, the “traffic jam pilot” will help Audi drivers by taking over the steering at speeds between 0 and 60 km/h (37.3 mph) in addition to accelerating and braking automatically.
To do this, the new system assesses the status of the car as well as the entire surroundings.
If the customer activates the system, the car completely takes over longitudinal and lateral guidance when it detects a traffic jam on a highway at speeds between 0 and 60 km/h (37.3 mph).
When the traffic jam pilot reaches its limits, such as when the traffic jam dissolves or the end of a divided road is reached, it prompts the driver to take over the wheel again.
A key component of the system of sensors is the radar system. As with today’s adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, it monitors a 35-degree field in front of the car at a range of up to 250 meters (820.2 ft). A video camera with a wide angle of aperture detects the lane markings as well as pedestrians and objects, such as other vehicles and guard rails. Up to twelve ultrasonic sensors are used to monitor the immediate space around the car.
A new member of the sensor portfolio is the laser scanner, which delivers highly precise data at a distance of up to 80 meters (262.5 ft). Its laser diode emits nearly 100,000 infrared light pulses per second that are invisible to the human eye. The laser scanner covers a 145-degree field on six levels. The controller computes a surroundings profile from the light reflections that shows both other vehicles and guard rails.
The laser scanner offers key advantages. Because of its wide angle of aperture, it detects cars entering the lane very early and also remains fully functional in the dark. It can detect all types of objects, including those with a homogeneous pattern, such as fences, or with no visible structure, such as white walls.
Here’s a short clip of what the onboard computer ‘sees’ while the system is active:
