© University of Luxembourg
For the first time after years of development, the University of Luxembourg drove its self-driving car in real conditions, in Kirchberg. Our colleagues from RTL 5 Minutes went along for the ride.
A strange car was driving on the roads of Kirchberg on Thursday morning. Despite the laser sensor and multiple cameras on its roof, it was not the vehicle of a certain well-known map provider… But a real self-driving car designed in Luxembourg. On Thursday, it went for its first drive in real conditions.
This electric Kia has been modified to accommodate a number of research devices and has been developed since 2018 by the 360Lab of the University of Luxembourg, a laboratory dedicated to “intelligent mobility.” These devices are intended for the passengers, all of whom are researchers and engineers at the University. As for the driver, a vigilant observer of the road, they will only have to touch the steering wheel or the pedals in case of emergency.
“It is an autonomous vehicle capable of driving in traffic,” explains Raphaël Frank, lead researcher at 360Lab. This is proof that “we are capable of using autonomous car technology in Luxembourg,” particularly for research into the mobility of tomorrow.
The vehicle is a unique tool that allows the University’s partners to develop a variety of technologies.
The car is fitted with an ultra-sensitive sensor that allows real-time mapping of the road (and is thus capable of detecting unexpected obstacles), an on-board computer with artificial intelligence trained for driving, and, most importantly, a very detailed map of Kirchberg. The tools thus cover numerous areas, including navigation, cartography, robotics, cybersecurity, and device connectivity.
“Our goal is to do better than human driving,” Frank explains, adding that “autonomous driving has the potential to create a mobility ecosystem that is both safer and more sustainable.”
In fact, artificial intelligence has a significantly faster reaction time than a human driver. So much so that the computer had to be slowed down slightly to make the ride smoother and more enjoyable for passengers.
On the road, the tests went well. The autonomous car was able to interact with traffic on a 3-kilometer circuit in Kirchberg without emergency intervention by the driver. All while adapting to traffic lights, traversing complex intersections, and choosing the appropriate lane to take. The vehicle is also capable of navigating a roundabout and reacting to pedestrians and other vehicles on the road.
A second vehicle from the University, this time driven normally, followed it in case the system decided to brake too hard and unexpectedly. This is because the autonomous car is sensitive and quick to brake, especially in the event of an obstacle. This is what happened when two cars swerved a little abruptly in front of it, which marked the first time that the software was clearly struggling to cope during the ride.
“We’re still a long way from complete autonomy,” says Raphaël Frank. “There are a lot of technical and legal issues to be resolved. Especially as the roads are sometimes complicated in Europe, unlike in the United States where some people are ahead of the game in terms of autonomous vehicles. But it will come. We can already deal with many road situations.” And depending on the research progress, vehicles like this might just turn today’s drivers into tomorrow’s passengers.
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