Volvo’s new autonomous drive concept allows the driver to drop their car off near a parking lot in a specified zone, activate autonomous smart phone app, and the car parks on its own. Getting rid of Volvo’s modified autonomous technology, the car moves out an open parking space and parks itself and waits for the retrieve command. Once the car has found a spot it sends the owner a notification of its location and that it has parked. Volvo’s Vehicle 2 Infrastructure technology in-road sensors are required to inform drivers of the drop off locations and activate the system.
Volvo has programmed the vehicle and its various sensors and cameras to interact in a safe and courteous manner with both pedestrians and competing vehicles to avoid autonomous road rage and traffic incidents. Owners can either walk to where the car has located itself, or using Volvo’s smart phone app signal the car which will then autonomously make its way back to the owner at the specified pick up zone. System is still conceptual at this point, the video made by Volvo provides reasonable proof that the autonomous program can function in real world situations. Volvo claims autonomous steering will be available in the 2014 Volvo XC90. Self parking however will remain a hands-on responsibility until Volvo perfects the self-parking technology. Source: Volvo Car Group
