Jaguar Land Rover demonstrates all-terrain self-driving research

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has demonstrated a range of innovative research technologies that would allow a future autonomous car to drive itself over any surface or terrain. JLR’s multi-million pound Autonomous All-Terrain Driving research project aims to make the self-driving car viable in the widest range of real life, on- and off-road driving environments and weather conditions.

To enable this level of autonomous all-terrain capability, JLR’s researchers are developing next-generation sensing technologies that will be the eyes of the future autonomous car. Because the sensors are always active and can see better than the driver, this advanced sensing will ultimately give a vehicle the high levels of artificial intelligence required for the car to think for itself and plan the route it should take, on any surface.

Surface Identification and 3D Path Sensing researchcombines camera, ultrasonic, radar and LIDAR sensors to give the car a 360-degree view of the world around it, with sensors so advanced that the car could determine surface characteristics, down to the width of a tyre, even in rain and falling snow, to plan its route.

Another key element of successful all-terrain autonomous driving is the ability for vehicles to communicate with each other, especially if they are out of sight around a bend or on the other side of an off-road obstacle. In a world-first off-road demonstration, JLR has connected two Range Rover Sports together using innovative Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) technology to create anOff-Road Connected Convoy. This wireless vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications system shares information, including vehicle location, wheel-slip, changes to suspension height and wheel articulation, as well as All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) and Terrain Response settings, instantly between the two vehicles.

Tony Harper, JLR’s Head of Research, said, “Our all-terrain autonomy research isn’t just about the car driving itself on a motorway or in extreme off-road situations. It’s about helping both the driven and autonomous car make their way safely through any terrain or driving situation. We don’t want to limit future highly automated and fully autonomous technologies to tarmac. When the driver turns off the road, we want this support and assistance to continue. We are already world leaders in all-terrain technologies; these research projects will extend that lead still further.”