We've all dreamed of a day when we'd get into our cars and let them actually drive us places. Although self-driving cars are in the works, we're still many years away from them actually becoming the new norm. However, Audi drivers can actually get a small taste of what's to come when autopilot automobiles become a reality with the Cruise RP-1 - an aftermarket highway autopilot system that's available for 2012 or newer Audi A4 or S4 models. The system will help you driver your Audi on major highways in California (keyword here is help). You still have to control the vehicle and be aware of your surrounding, but the $10,000-Cruise RP-1 will take over some responsibilities behind the wheel...here's how it will sort of be Audi drivers' personal chauffeur.
1. It Sees The Road
The Cruise RP-1 is always hard at work, watching the roads and the other cars via its Sensor Pod that's mounted on the roof of an Audio. Thanks to a combination of built-in cameras, radar and its own measurement system, the Sensor Pod gathers highway info like how far behind your car is from the one in front of you and how fast traffic is going to make real-time decisions while driving. It'll use these sensors to make the necessary speed adjustments to maintain a safe following distance from a car in front of you, even if you've just been cut off.
2. A Computer Keeps You Safe
Whatever the Sensor Pod detects on the road gets transmitted to the Cruise Computer that acts as the brain of the entire system. It's installed in the trunk of your Audi, taking up less than two feet of space and is mounted off to the side so that it doesn't interfere with what you place in your trunk. The computer will then calculate everything that's needed to keep you and your smily safe while driving your Audi using state-of-the-art computer vision algorithms. You'll be safe in your lane and will still be a safe distance from surrounding vehicles thanks to its advanced computer vision. It also controls actuators under the car's pedals and on the steering wheel to move them as needed for current road conditions, allowing you to sit back and relax while it does all the work on the highway.
3. You're Still In Control
Turning on the system is as easy as clicking a button! The controls for the system seamlessly integrate into your car so that you can engage and disengage the autopilot whenever you want. It'll also alert you immediately with both visual and audio cues when it's ever in doubt about what it's sensing or seeing so that you can take full control of the car. The system is meant to really cruise highways (thus its name) and can't switch lanes or steer you off to exits, you have to do all that.
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