Volvo accelerates autonomous driving

Volvo is set to begin production of fully autonomous vehicles that can navigate highways in 2022.

The vehicles will be capable of self-driving using LiDAR technology, which involves millions of pulses of laser light creating real-time, 3D maps of the roads without requiring internet connectivity.

Volvo is partnering with technology company Luminar to provide the carmaker’s first fully self-driving technology for highways. Its next generation SPA 2 modular vehicle architecture will be ready to hit production models from 2022, with the LiDAR device integrated into the roof of cars.

Vehicles based on SPA 2 will be updated with software over the air and if customers choose the feature that allows autonomous highway driving, it will be activated once it has been verified safe for the locations where the car will be driven.

“Autonomous drive has the potential to be one of the most lifesaving technologies in history, if introduced responsibly and safely,” says Henrik Green, pictured right, chief technology officer at Volvo Cars. “Providing our future cars with the vision they require to make safe decisions is an important step in that direction.”

Volvo and US-based Luminar are also exploring LiDAR’s potential to improve future advanced driver assistance systems.

The Highway Pilot system will be combined with autonomous drive software and cameras, radars and back-up systems for functions such as steering, braking and battery power to be installed on forthcoming Volvo cars equipped for self-driving. 

“Soon, your Volvo will be able to drive autonomously on highways when the car determines it is safe to do so,” Green says. “At that point, your Volvo takes responsibility for the driving and you can relax, take your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel. 

“Over time, updates over the air will expand the areas in which the car can drive itself. For us, a safe introduction of autonomy is a gradual introduction.”
Austin Russell, pictured left, founder and CEO of Luminar, says the partnership with Volvo is his company’s first chance to deliver its technology into vehicle production.

“The next era of safety lies within autonomous driving and once again, Volvo has taken the lead with a major industry milestone,” Russell says. 
“We’ve solved the key cost, performance, and auto-grade challenges to make series production possible, and alongside Volvo are making the technology available to the world.”