In the battle of autonomous driving, several of the largest automobile manufacturers and technology companies have entered in recent years, introducing highly disruptive innovations that promise to radically transform mobility.
But how far can automakers take autonomous driving technology? In our previous article , we presented some of the most impressive self-driving vehicles in the world, including a car that moves like a crab, a vehicle with a built-in bed, and a futuristic car fit for a superhero.
Today we will see three more pioneering models of self-driving vehicles that have been designed with the prospect of full “robotic” mobility.
4. Mercedes F 015 Luxury in Motion
Mercedes-Benz is synonymous with luxury cars, which clearly extends to any self-propelled vehicle that is part of its lineup. The Luxury F 015 in Motion is a hydrogen-powered prototype car that made its debut at last year's CES, giving us a taste of the autonomous driving cars of the future.
Instead of two rows of fixed seats, the unconventional prototype of Mercedes has four seats that rotate, so all passengers can sit face to face.
Given that the car aims to relieve passengers from the “headache” of looking at the road, Mercedes designers have accordingly shaped the interior space providing them with all kinds of comforts, while they are on the move.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYTV4d-Gn0s” width=”640″ height=”380″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7o0qA4L4So[/su_youtube]
Six screens around the interior provide information about the vehicle's motion while also allowing interaction, both via touch and via gestures, thanks to motion recognition technology.
5. The Aeon Project
Among all autonomous vehicles under development, most have been grounded. The Aeon Project is an exception, promising a car that will not only be able to drive along the city streets, but will also be able to fly high in the sky.
This futuristic spherical vehicle relies on interactive applications for planning its route, and all that is required from passengers is to select their destination and then sit back and relax.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjnbiaY1JCE” width=”640″ height=”380″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7o0qA4L4So[/su_youtube]
6. Marty – The self-driving DeLorean
[alert variation=”alert-info”]DeLorean: car – symbol of the 80s that became known because of its appearances in the Back to the Future trilogy, as the car of «Doc Βrown» that was used for time travel.[/alert]
The protagonist of the movie Marty McFly most likely never saw it coming, but a group of applied engineering students from Stanford University had the idea to bring a classic Hollywood idol back to the future with self-driving and self-drifting capabilities.
The project “got flesh and bone” for the celebration of Back to the Future Day, which is celebrated on October 21, 2015 – the date when Marty and Doc make their final trip in the second movie of the trilogy.
The students modified the legendary DeLorean, applying self-driving technology and, in a corresponding tribute, gave the name “Marty” to their project.
