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VisLab Sponsors Milan-to-Shanghai Driverless Trek

incuso writes "VisLab announced the most advanced challenge so far ever organized for autonomous vehicles. Two driverless electric cars will perform a trip from Italy to China to demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous driving in real traffic conditions. Each vehicle will be equipped with five laser scanners, seven cameras, GPS, inertial measurement unit, three Linux PCs, and an x-by-wire driving system. The mission will start on July 10 in Milan, Italy, and will reach Shanghai, China, on October 10 (10/10/10) on a 13,000 km route though Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and finally China."

7 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. Auto-Autos by wagonlips · · Score: 3, Funny

    Should an autonomous car be called an auto-automobile?

  2. The catch is, by gzipped_tar · · Score: 3, Insightful

    that it is probably illegal to drive such an automaton in real traffic in any country, incl. "Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and finally China."

    --
    Colorless green Cthulhu waits dreaming furiously.
    1. Re:The catch is, by Nadaka · · Score: 3, Funny

      Perhaps it is illegal to drive an autonomous vehicle, those 3 linux pcs are going to rot in jail if they ever get caught.

  3. Re:Several key concepts missing from the summary by Devout_IPUite · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What happens if someone cuts off the 2nd vehicle?

  4. Re:Several key concepts missing from the summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Didn't you read the summary, the auto-automobile has five lasers! Cut off at your own risk!

  5. Re:Several key concepts missing from the summary by Yvanhoe · · Score: 3, Informative
    From the article :

    The first vehicle will drive autonomously in selected sections of the trip and will conduct experimental tests on sensing, decision, and control subsystems, and will continuously collect data. Although limited, human interventions will be needed to define the route and intervene in critical situations. The second vehicle will automatically follow the route defined by the preceding vehicle, requiring no human intervention (100% autonomous). This will be regarded as a readily exploitable vehicle, able to move on predefined routes; at the end of the trip, its technology will be transferred to a set of vehicles to move in the inner part of Rome in the close future.

    The first vehicle is a bit more than a drone and the second one is a bit more than a mere follower. From what they say, once the trip has been made once, a vehicle could be autonomously doing the road without following anyone. That is an interesting achievment.

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    The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
  6. Re:Two Russian problems by Erikderzweite · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, strong motor and chassis, good tires, suspension, tough bumper let you drive over one of the two problems. But then again, there are also roads on the way.