Soon possible - autonomous driving for classic cars
The CES in Las Vegas at the beginning of the year showed that the trend towards autonomous driving will not only be ensured for future vehicles, but must also be given its place in historic vehicles. In collaboration with leading classic car specialists and media companies (including zwischengas.com, which was also welcomed at the first tests), Delphic-Technology has now developed a pioneering driving assistance system for historic vehicles.
The basis for current driver assistance systems such as the collision warning system, but above all for cars that can move safely without driver intervention, is reliable communication between sensor systems that monitor the traffic environment. Last year, Delphic sent a converted Mercedes-Benz 190 SL through the United States. The journey of over 5500 km from San Francisco to New York collected more than four petabytes of data for the further development of driver assistance systems and a wealth of experience for historic automobiles.
A next generation of control systems is now being announced for 2016, which will enable autonomous driving even at high speeds and on winding roads. The vehicles involved in this development will be equipped with complex front cameras and simple (and concealed) radar sensors to safeguard the optical information. Of course, the focus is on weight optimization and compact dimensions, as well as a retro look, as shown by the front camera in the form of a Leica lens.
Added to this is the SmartLinky interface, on the basis of which "zwischengas" has developed an oldie app with its technology subsidiary. This allows, for example, driver and passenger smartphone apps to be connected to the infotainment, racing and rally systems.
The installation kit for autonomous driving, consisting of sensors, camera, various servo points and actuators required to operate the steering, clutch, transmission and brakes, is developed specifically for each vehicle. Obviously, packages for the most popular classic cars such as the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL will be launched on the market first. The packages will also be available early on for American cars (pictured above), which were built in large numbers on similar platforms, as they offer particularly good conditions for the installation of the innovative technology thanks to their automatic transmission and servo technology.
For more information, please visit the Delphic-Technology website.
Everything will be fine, so we don't need to worry about whether or not our cars will still be roadworthy in the near future. Cultural assets must be preserved, whatever the cost.
