Currently reading: Jaguar Land Rover to start UK tests of self-driving car technology
A fleet of connected and autonomous research vehicles will take to the roads around Coventry and Solihull later this year

Jaguar Land Rover will start testing connected and self-driving vehicle technology on a 41-mile test route in the Midlands before the end of this year.

The British car company plans to create increase its test fleet to more than 100 research vehicles over the next four years. Back in February JLR revealed plans for a 41-mile real-world ‘living laboratory’ on motorways and urban roads around Coventry and Solihull.

The initial tests will involve vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications technologies that will allow cars to ‘talk’ to each other and roadside signs, overhead gantries and traffic lights.

Ultimately, data sharing between vehicles would allow future connected cars to co-operate and work together to assist the driver and make lane changing and crossing junctions easier and safer.

Land rover roadwork assist 01

Jaguar Land Rover’s head of research, Tony Harper, said: “Our connected and automated technology could help improve traffic flow, cut congestion and reduce the potential for accidents.

“We will also improve the driving experience, with drivers able to choose how much support and assistance they need. In traffic, for example, the driver could choose autonomy assist during tedious or stressful parts of the journey.

“But even when an enthusiastic driver is fully focused on enjoying the thrill of the open road, the new technology we are creating will still be working in the background to help keep them safe.

“Because the intelligent car will always be alert and is never distracted, it could guide you through road works and prevent accidents. If you are a keen driver, imagine being able to receive a warning that there’s a hazard out of sight or around a blind bend. Whether it’s a badly parked car or an ambulance heading your way, you could slow down, pass the hazard without fuss and continue on your journey.”

Roadwork assist info

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Roadwork assist

This system uses a forward-facing stereo camera to generate a 3D view of the road ahead and together with advanced image processing software, it can recognise cones and barriers and identify a path through them. The system will then apply a small amount of steering assistance to the wheel to help the driver remain centred in lane.

Harper said: “Our prototype system will guide the vehicle to the centre of the narrow lane, reducing driver workload and stress. With further research, in the future this system could enable the car to drive autonomously through roadworks.”

Safe pullaway info

Safe pullaway

Utilises the stereo camera to monitor the area immediately in front of the vehicle and prevents drivers from low-speed collisions, such as those caused by getting too close to the vehicle in front in traffic jams or when entering junctions. 

If objects such as vehicles or walls are detected, and the system receives signals from throttle pedal activation or from gear selection that could lead to a collision, the vehicle brakes are automatically applied and the driver receives an audible warning.

Over the horizon warning

Part of a research project testing devices that use radio signals to transmit relevant data from vehicle to vehicle. If vehicles were able to communicate independently, drivers and autonomous cars could be warned of hazards and obstacles over the horizon or around blind bends.

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If a vehicle has slowed or stopped, and poses a risk to other motorists, it would send a ‘Hazard Ahead’ warning to nearby vehicles. Approaching vehicles will then receive a visual and audible warning, informing the driver of the hazard.

A related system, emergency vehicle warning, allows connected ambulances, police cars or fire engines to communicate with other vehicles on the road, giving drivers more time to react.

JLR stresses that its new technology is in the first instance focused on reducing driver stress and helping prevent accidents. Yesterday the company revealed that it is working on all-terrain autonomous driving capability for its vehicles.

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Deputy 13 July 2016

Self Parking

An their new self parking system ensures it parks across 2 bays (based on parking preferences of owners of new Range Rover Sports)
smokescreen38 13 July 2016

Self Parking

I hope you meant parking over two disabled bays as well.
smokescreen38 13 July 2016

Autopilot systems

Will Land Rovers system be set permanently to take the car back to the dealership for more repairs.
jonrbloom 13 July 2016

smokescreen38 wrote: Will

smokescreen38 wrote:

Will Land Rovers system be set permanently to take the car back to the dealership for more repairs.

The last reliability survey (in WhatCar I think) I saw had Land Rover ahead of BMW, Mercedes, and Audi, so I'm not sure how fair this reputation is any more.

They were still way down the list don't get me wrong, but with the most common faults for any vehicle being electrical these days, it would seem to me to make sense that cars towards the luxury end of the market will come out worse just on the laws of probability. If you have twice as many electrical gadgets, expect lower reliability.

So maybe the moral is, if you want reliability keep it simple. Which begs the question what's going to happen when all cars have this sophisticated self-driving tech with all the sensors needed to make that work ?

xxxx 13 July 2016

actually

jonrbloom wrote:
smokescreen38 wrote:

Will Land Rovers system be set permanently to take the car back to the dealership for more repairs.

The last reliability survey (in WhatCar I think) I saw had Land Rover ahead of BMW, Mercedes, and Audi, so I'm not sure how fair this reputation is any more.

They were still way down the list don't get me wrong, but with the most common faults for any vehicle being electrical these days, it would seem to me to make sense that cars towards the luxury end of the market will come out worse just on the laws of probability. If you have twice as many electrical gadgets, expect lower reliability.

So maybe the moral is, if you want reliability keep it simple. Which begs the question what's going to happen when all cars have this sophisticated self-driving tech with all the sensors needed to make that work ?

In the latest JD Power UK Vehicle Dependability Survey (reported on by Autocar today) Land Rover was bottom