Audi announced that it is the first automaker to get a permit from the state of California for testing self-driving cars on public roads!
Per a law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2012, new state regulations took effect at the same day allowing testing self-driving cars for the first time in California.
"Audi is a driving force behind the research taking automated driving from science fiction to pre-production readiness," Scott Keogh, president of Audi of America, said in a statement. "Obtaining the first permit issued by the state of California shows that we intend to remain the leader in this vital technology frontier."
After the German car giant got a permit, they already test their new concept vehicle-Audi RS-7. The car topped 149mph (240km/h) while driving on the Grand Prix track in Hockenheim, Germany over the weekend having successfully finished its lap without taking out any gravel traps or bashing into any concrete barriers.
According to an Audi press release (press credentials required to view), the car's developers lovingly nicknamed it "Bobby"; the fastest autonomous car on the planet. It took just over two minutes to complete a lap on the track-at racing speed, and "without a driver."
"The top performance by the Audi RS-7...substantiates the skills of our development team with regard to piloted driving at Audi," Ulrich Hackenberg, board member for technical development for Audi, said in a statement.
For direction on the track, the car uses specially corrected GPS signals.
This GPS data is transmitted to the vehicle via WiFi according to the automotive standard and redundantly via high-frequency radio.
In parallel to this, 3D cameras in the car film the track, and a computer program compares the cameras' image information against a data set stored on board.
This is what makes it possible for the technology pioneer to orient itself on the track within centimeters - and decide on the perfect race line.
Furthermore, a member of the car company's research team explained that it believed the innovation could ultimately be used by the public.
"I know accident-free driving will remain a vision. But at least we can reduce the number of accidents in the future," said Dr. Horst Glaser.
"Piloted driving defuses situations like, for example, being in a traffic jam. Whenever the driver is distracted and inattentive the car could take over.
"Additionally the driver has a chance to relax. That means they are on full alert as soon as their attention is required again."
He also added that the insurance industry needs to cope with the concept.
"One of the big issues is what happens if there is an accident," he explained.
"Who is responsible? Is it the driver even if they are not driving? Is it the car company? Is it the software company? There are a whole load of legal issues to sort out.
"But there could be big savings for the economy in terms of far fewer accidents and more efficient travel."
Aside from the German automaker, others have also started testing self-driving technology elsewhere such as Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Ford, GM; many expect to have such vehicles on the road by 2020.
Meanwhile, a study released by IHS Automotive says that by 2025, as many as 230,000 new autonomous vehicles a year could hit the roads around the world. And by 2035, it could swell up to 54 million self-driving cars on the road.
But this autonomous Audi RS 7 with 560-horsepower, piloted driving concept definitely proved itself capable of rounding 17-turn Hockenheim circuit with assurance. Audi said the car achieved braking force of 1.3G and lateral acceleration of 1.1G.
