Level 4 autonomous trials to hit French motorways

Level 4 autonomous technology designed to allow drivers to take their minds off the road is to be tested in cars on French motorways later this year. Carmaker Groupe PSA has announced a partnership with Hungarian automotive software developer AImotive, to test a pilot programme at highway cruising speeds of up to 130 kilometres per hour, on 300km dedicated motorway sections. The project will test AI-based technologies including adaptive cruise control, fully automated lane changing, autonomous over-taking and collision avoidance, according to Adam Kotai, control engineer at AImotive. "We are testing our recognition capabilities, so recognising things like other cars, people and road lanes, as well as our capabilities for controlling the car, such as lane keeping," he said. The partnership is designed to demonstrate the potential of AI technology for so-called Level 4 capabilities, or highly autonomous vehicles, capable of driving safely even if the driver chooses not to intervene.