VW to test driverless vans

VOLKSWAGEN IS PUTTING FIVE FULLY AUTONOMOUS vans into testing in Germany.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) unveiled the VW ID.BUZZ AD (autonomous driving) at the recent IAA Mobility 2021 expo in Munich.

The prototype driverless vans, based on the electric ID.BUZZ van which is scheduled to go on sale in Europe next year, are the result of a partnership between VWCV and Argo AI – a US tech firm specialising in autonomous driving technology.

The Argo self-driving system can provide a 360-degree awareness of the vehicle’s environment. It can predict the actions of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles while controlling the powertrain, braking and steering systems so the vehicle moves safely naturally, like an experienced driver.

“An environment recognition system from six lidar, 11 radar and 14 cameras, distributed over the entire vehicle, can capture much more than any human driver can from his seat,’’ says Christian Senger, VWCV’s head of autonomous driving.

A proprietary sensor Argo Lidar – which sits on the roof of the prototypes – can detect objects up to 400 metres away, while a patented Geiger-mode has the ability to detect even the smallest particles of light (a single photon), so that even objects with low reflectivity (like black-painted vehicles) are detected.

Testing of the ID.BUZZ AD will take place at the Argo AI development centre near Munich. Mobility service provider MOIA (a VW subsidiary) will be the first user of the ID.BUZZ AD – introducing it in 2025 in a Hamburg ride-pooling service.

T&D