Volvo Cars and ride-sharing service Uber have jointly announced a Volvo XC90 SUV that the companies claim is the first production car that is capable of fully driving itself.
The vehicle is based on a collaboration between the two companies that began in 2016 designed to accelerate the self-driving capabilities of cars. The XC90 base vehicle is equipped with safety features that allow Uber to install its self-driving system for the possible future deployment of self-driving cars on Uber’s network for autonomous ride-sharing.
The automated driving production vehicle includes back-up systems for both steering and braking functions as well as battery back-up power. If these systems fail, the vehicle is equipped with back-up systems that bring the car to a stop. The vehicle is also equipped with an array of sensors built on top and into the vehicle for Uber’s self-driving system to operate safely and move in an urban environment.
Volvo said it plans to use a similar autonomous base vehicle for the introduction of its future self-driving cars set for debut in the early 2020s. The technologies will include features designed to enable unsupervised self-driving in designated areas such as highways and roads.
“We believe autonomous drive technology will allow us to further improve safety, the foundation of our company,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars. “By the middle of the next decade we expect one-third of all cars we sell to be fully autonomous.”
Volvo said autonomous technology for vehicles can generate significant road safety benefits as well as provide a better driving experience by taking away mundane tasks such as driving in traffic.
