If you’ve flipped on a TV or turned over a newspaper in the past few months, no doubt you’ve caught a headline or two about autonomous vehicles, autonomous driving, and the coming eventuality of autonomous cars filling our roadways. What you might not know, however, is that Audi of America is one of the key automakers helping to lead the charge toward an autonomous driving future. Recently, Audi became the first automaker to receive a license to test its Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) Level 3 autonomous vehicles!
“New York State is a nationwide leader in innovative highway safety programs and the potential for autonomous vehicles to save lives on our roadways is immeasurable,”[New York State] Governor Cuomo said.—from a May 31, 2017 Audi of America Press Release
Yesterday, @Audi performed the first successful autonomous vehicle demonstrations in NYS. https://t.co/OxhldXscRZ pic.twitter.com/aUoCn1a1Yy
— State of New York (@NYGov) June 14, 2017
What is SAE Level 3 Automation?
SAE Level 3 automation means a vehicle that is able to drive itself at posted highway speeds, only when certain specific conditions are met. The testing includes two trained engineers accompanying the vehicle so they can monitor the system and intervene for safety. The first NY state tests will begin in Albany, NY sometime in mid-June, continuing out from there. The New York State Police will also be on-hand to supervise the demonstration.
“We have been leading the way in the development of piloted driving technology for more than a decade now, and testing in real-world environments is a key step in our pursuit of safer roads,’’ said Scott Keogh, president of Audi of America. “We applaud Governor Cuomo for his leadership and stand ready to assist in defining how this future will unfold in the Empire State now and for years to come.” —from a May 31, 2017 Audi of America Press Release
No matter what you think about autonomous driving, ready or not, here it comes. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to make our roadways safer, cleaner, and more efficient, thereby transforming the way we travel and experience automobiles. Without a human driver, the interior of a vehicle can be greatly redesigned, changing how we spend our time in vehicles, perhaps even making that time more meaningful, useful, or restful.
Here at Audi Warrington, we’re proud to see Audi on the cutting edge of technology and leading the autonomous driving push in New York state. We’re not too far away here in Warrington, PA, so the tide of autonomous driving is, very literally, getting closer each day. In the meantime, however, you’re still the one who has to drive your Audi model—not that that’s too much of a burden, especially considering the current members of the Audi lineup. If you’re not keen to wait for autonomous vehicles to sweep us up, come see our selection of driver-driven Audi models and get moving in elevated luxury before a steering wheel is a relic of a bygone era.