Imagine driving to Sainsbury’s or Tesco and getting out of the car at the supermarket entrance and then the car drives off to park itself. Dream, madness… Well it is almost a reality. Researchers at Stanford University's School of Engineering have demonstrated a car that can park itself.
Stanford University's School of Engineering and Volkswagen America recently held a special dedication ceremony for the new Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Laboratory (VAIL) which will do research on vehicle-safety, environmental issues, as well as continuing work on autonomous driving. And this is where the car that parks itself comes in.
As part of the ceremony the Standard/VW team demonstrated the "first ever" autonomous parking by a driverless car. The VW Passat called Junior entered into a car park, found the first empty space and reversed into it. There was nobody in the car"¦ It was all handled by computer.
The Volkswagen Group has donated $5.75 million to the creation of VAIL, which includes $750,000 a year for five years to fund research and teaching activities.
At the same event VAIL also unveiled the Pike's Peak Audi TT-S, that they hope will drive itself up the 2010 Pikes Peak course without a driver.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motor sports race in America. The race is run on a 12.42 mile course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs.
Related links: Cars That Drive Themselves
Zath
2 thoughts on “Cars That Can Park Themselves! Yes Please!”
I don’t think i can trust electronics to park my car. At least if you or the wife does it, you have someone to blame if all goes wrong. Who can you blame with this?