AUDI SHOWS THE FUTURE, TODAY
Audi has revealed how recent advances in artificial intelligence are shaping its vision for the car of the future with the unveiling of two hightech mobility concepts, the Elaine and the Aicon.
The electric-powered Elaine SUV and Aicon saloon have been created to showcase technologies being developed by Audi for inclusion on upcoming production models while providing clues to how driverless cars may look.
They are described as the most advanced yet undertaken by Audi. Their assistant systems draw on artificial intelligence, the latest in-machine learning and car-to-infrastructure communication technology to network them with traffic planners and other road users. The technology aims to give occupants more freedom and time for themselves by providing fully autonomous driving functions.
Audi said the car will become “more and more a third living space alongside our home and workplaces. Artificial intelligence will relieve strain and offer new possibilities to use the time spent in the car”.
The Elaine shows how artificial intelligence will influence the next generation of Audi models with Level 4 autonomous driving technology. It includes a remote parking function that allows the driver to step out and watch as it parks itself in a multi-storey garage or positions itself in a bay for the recharging of its battery.
The Aicon looks further into the future with an interior devoid of a traditional cockpit, steering wheel and pedals. Instead, it offers a lounge-like environment with the very latest in digital infotainment and communication solutions. It incorporates Level 5 autonomous driving technology that, Audi says, will bring about a dramatic reduction in road accidents.