This month, the technology team at Land Rover demonstrated a future feature of the off-road SUVs—All-Terrain Self Driving. Now, we know that Tesla has championed and created the self-driving car, but the ideas stemming from Land Rover’s research are beyond cool. The Land Rover team is aiming to create an SUV that can function autonomously not merely on the highway, but also in various off-road driving environments and in an array of weather conditions. Of this important project, the Head of Research for Jaguar Land Rover, Tony Harper, said, “Our all-terrain autonomy research isn’t just about the car driving itself on a motorway or in extreme off-road situations. It’s about helping both the driven and autonomous cars make their way safely through any terrain or driving situation.”
The key to this technology’s success is the development of new sensors for the vehicle. 3D path-sensing research combines camera, ultrasonic, radar, and LIDAR sensors to provide a panoramic, full-environment view for the car. Because Land Rover desires this car to function in rough environments, it will also include overhead sensors in order to safely clear low-hanging tree branches or other obstacles. Additional sensors are needed under the automobile to understand the terrain and adjust the automatic driving style to suit the conditions.
These self-driving off-road cars are just in the testing stages, but it’s amazing to see what diligent research and scientific development are capable of producing. Check out these two in-depth videos about Land Rover’s newest endeavors.
To test drive a current Land Rover SUV, stop by indiGO Auto Group’s Land Rover Rancho Mirage on the Desert European Motorcars Campus.
