Driverless cars: Is this the future of motoring?

New technology, that could allow cars to travel on motorways without any input from the driver, has successfully undergone its fi rst real-world trials.

The EU-fi nanced SARTRE (Safe Road Trains for The Environment) project is based around the idea of a convoy of vehicles, or 'road train', all controlled by one lead driver.

Wireless technology in each car measures the distance, speed and direction and automatically adjusts to the car in front. The driver is then free to relax while the convoy proceeds towards its long haul destination.

The SARTRE team has for the first time trialled the technology outside of simulators, using Volvo's test track in Sweden. The tests included a lead vehicle and a single following car.

The successful test was a "major milestone", says Tom Robinson, SARTRE co-ordinator at engineering firm Ricardo.

He said road trains would help improve road safety, as they eliminate the human factor which is the cause of at least 80 per cent of accidents: "Road trains offer the prospect of improved road safety, better road space utilization, improved driver comfort on long journeys and reduced fuel consumption and hence CO2 emissions."

Trial participant Eric Coelingh, an engineering specialist at Volvo, said: "We are very pleased to see that the various systems work so well together already the first time. After all, the systems come from seven SARTRE-member companies in four countries."

Project researchers believe the technology behind the SARTRE system could be in use in a few years, however, it may take much longer for European member nations to pass laws that allow it to be widely used.

How it works

Drivers who want to join a road train state their destination and are guided by their on-board navigation system to the nearest convoy. The car joins the rear of the queue and the system takes control over the car.

The lead vehicle, for instance a bus, is driven by a professional driver, and controls the vehicles following it via wireless radio communication.

As they approach their destination, drivers take control of their own vehicles and leave the road train by pulling out to one side. The other vehicles in the convoy automatically close the gap and continue on their journey.

See a video of the trial here: volvo.qbrick.com/index.aspx?cid=2&mode=3&mid=564