A laboratory on wheels
In the chaos of the Paris ring road, an Audi A6 Avant estate car catches the eye. Packed with measuring instruments, this vehicle is not designed to map the streets for Google, but serves as a rolling laboratory for Audi. The German manufacturer puts its vehicles to the test in extreme conditions, and the Paris ring road certainly offers an ideal testing environment.
Extreme test conditions
Why choose Paris for these real-life tests? Parisian traffic is notoriously dense and chaotic, with a multitude of unpredictable variables. In addition, the deterioration of traffic and driver behaviour present unique challenges for driver assistance and safety systems.
The role of the Audi A6
The Audi A6 estate car, registered in Ingolstadt, Audi’s headquarters, is more than just a vehicle. Packed with cameras, sensors and computers, it serves as a rolling laboratory for the development of lidars and radars applied to semi-autonomous driving and navigation systems. It is a key element in Audi’s quest to perfect its automotive technologies.
The future of autonomous driving
Paris is not the only city to host autonomous vehicle tests. Valeo, a French company, demonstrated the first fully autonomous car tested in Paris. The car successfully navigated the complex and chaotic streets of the French capital without human intervention. The presence of the Audi A6 on the streets of Paris underlines the importance of testing automotive technologies in real and unpredictable conditions. With this rolling laboratory, Audi is at the forefront of automotive innovation, striving to create safer and more efficient vehicles for the future. The future of the automobile is on the move, and it’s moving fast through the streets of Paris.