The start of a driverless cars era

MUMBAI, INDIA: The road rage has reached a new high, and mind you this is no science fiction.

JLR, a division of Tata Motors, has made a Range Rover Sport that can be driven remotely using a smart phone. The company recently released a prototype Range Rover named the Remote Control Range Rover Sport that comes with an app that allows the user to control the car’s steering, accelerator and brakes as well as changing from high and low range.

What it does?
The Range Rover Sport steers, accelerates, brakes and makes U-turns with the driver walking alongside the SUV to help it negotiate rocky or steep terrain. Away from the backwoods, drivers can use the app to steer the vehicle into and out of tight parking spots, the Whitley, England-based carmaker said in a prepared statement.

In short, this means that you can sit at home or walk along the car, and drive it by using your phone.

The technology behind autonomy:
Range Rover is using the multi-point turn technology that enables autonomous maneuvering through 180 degrees to turn the car in the road and point it in the opposite direction.

The technology uses advanced sensors and radars that make up the bulk of any autonomous vehicle’s control system. The main features of this Range Rover’s system include radar, LIDAR, cameras, ultrasonic and structured light technology.

Safety measures:
The app controls the vehicle’s speed and direction. While the speed is limited to 4 mph, the smart phone needs to be within 10 feet of the vehicle.

The company says that it could eventually build voice commands into the system.

The same sensors and systems that will help an autonomous car make the right decisions will assist the driver and enhance the experience to help prevent accidents.