Groupe PSA, which includes the car brands Peugeot, Citroën and DS, carried out trials of a self-driving vehicle this month. The experiments took place on French public roads. In addition, Japan's Toyota announced it is also testing a self-driving vehicle on European roads.
Groupe PSA's trials were carried out on 11 July in collaboration with VINCI Autoroutes, the operator of France's toll roads. Among other things, a self-driving Peugeot 3008 had to navigate safely through a toll gate, find its way autonomously during roadworks and come to a safe stop on the emergency lane.
AGM programme
The tests were carried out on the French A10 and A11 motorways between Dourdan and Ablis. The Peugeot 3008 used to carry out the tests is one of the prototypes developed by Groupe PSA within the Autonomous Vehicle for All (AVA) programme. This programme aims to develop a simple and intuitive autonomous car that offers a safe and comfortable driving experience.
Within AVA, the focus is on developing user-friendly technology that supports the driver. To make this possible, Groupe PSA is developing interfaces that are both simple and intuitive to operate, and allow users to take back control of the vehicle at any time. Different levels of autonomous driving are being developed within the AGM programme, which Groupe PSA intends to use to meet the varying needs of different customers.
Driving assistance systems in production models
Within AVA programme, features have previously been developed that are now available on production models. As examples, Groupe PSA cites the Peugeot 208, 308, 2008, Traveller and the new Peugeot 3008, as well as the Citroën C4 Picasso, C3 and SpaceTourer. In Europe, these models all feature driving assistance systems. These include adaptive cruise control that automatically adjusts the vehicle's speed according to the vehicle in front, a system that warns of approaching accidents, an automatic emergency braking system and a system that automatically keeps the vehicle within its lane.
Groupe PSA also provides these features in China, although they are available on other models. The features are available in the Asian country on the Peugeot 4008 and Citroën C6.
'Next step in development of autonomous vehicles'
"This trial is the next step in the development of autonomous vehicles. Two years after the first test, the aim was to address even more application limitations by improving communication between the autonomous vehicle and the road infrastructure to extend the system's reach and ensure safety. These experiments demonstrate the innovative and practical nature of the cooperation between Groupe PSA and Vinci Autoroutes, which is vital for the development of autonomous vehicles," explains Carla Gohin, Chief Technology Officer of Groupe PSA.
Pierre Coppey, board chairman of VINCI Autoroutes and executive vice-president of VINCI, highlights the importance of smart road infrastructure. "Smart road infrastructure is essential for the development of autonomous vehicles. It enhances contextual data shared with the navigation system to optimise vehicle decision-making and route determination," Coppey said. "With this in mind, the collaboration with PSA is promising. The road network provides a testing ground for new mobility solutions that will revolutionise road use in the future."
Autonomous Lexus LS in Brussels city centre
Besides Groupe PSA, Toyota is also going to test a self-driving vehicle on European roads. The vehicle in question is a Lexus LS, which will be tested with a safety driver in the centre of the Belgian capital Brussels. The experiments aim to assess the impact of the diversity of human behaviour on automated driving systems. This same vehicle has previously driven on public roads in both Japan and the United States.
During the test, the Lexus LS travels a fixed route through the centre of Brussels over a 13-month period. The vehicle is equipped on its roof with a variety of sensors, including LIDAR, radars, cameras and an accurate positioning system. To ensure the safety of fellow road users, a human driver will be present at all times during the test, who can intervene to correct the autonomous vehicle if necessary.
The autonomous Lexus LS that Toyota is experimenting with in Brussels (source photo: Toyota)
Studying unpredictable human behaviour
Gerald Killmann, Vice President Research & Development of Toyota Motor Europe (TME): "TME's R&D centre in Brussels is the Regional Centre of Excellence for Computer Vision within global Toyota, which aims to ensure that computers 'see' and 'understand' the environment. The main goal of this pilot project is to study the complex and unpredictable human behaviour and its impact on the requirements of automated driving systems. Toyota's ultimate goal is zero road accident victims. Therefore, understanding human behaviour is essential to respond to the complexity and population diversity of an urban environment such as Brussels, the European capital with 184 different nationalities. After successful trials on public roads in Japan and the US, we are now going to expand the car's interpretation capability to include European driving conditions."
Christophe Vanoerbeek of Brussels Mobility added: "The Brussels Capital Region, and Brussels Mobility in particular, closely follows the latest technological developments regarding automated vehicles. We are aware of the potential of technology as a solution for urban mobility, but also realise that safety always comes first. This awareness is reflected in our new Regional Mobility Plan, called Good Move, and in one of the 50 measures we have proposed to realise our vision: anticipating the arrival of automated vehicles. Our ambitious strategic study on the transition to automated vehicles is defining the steps needed for a strong framework and positive development of automated vehicles. I think we can be proud that our city and Region are the laboratory for these kinds of advanced mobility solutions. We are encouraging innovation in mobility by all means, and that is recognised internationally."
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
