Autonomous

Vehicles equipped with advanced driving assistance systems – such as lane-keeping and lane-wander warning technology – behave inconsistently and are potentially dangerous, according to a study conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA). The study tested so-called 'level-two' autonomous technologies, which allow the car to take over control of steering, braking, and acceleration under some circumstances.

An innovative active suspension system – capable of adjusting wheel alignment while driving – has been developed by Victorian-based company Doftek. The active wheel alignment system (AWAS) is designed to be retrofitted to a car's existing suspension. The vehicle's standard suspension mounts and tie rods are replaced with electromechanical components that, via a control unit, can adjust the angle of the wheels (camber, toe-in, and caster) to suit road conditions and driver preferences.

US car giant Ford will share data from an entire year of driving from two of its self-driving cars to the wider academic research community to help fast-track autonomous driving technology. In particular, the extra data will help researchers gain important insights into how the vehicles identify objects and hazards in a wide variety of driving conditions.

The SC-1 Sociable Cart has been unveiled with self-driving vehicle smarts from Yamaha and imaging technology from Sony. There's seating for up to five people within the SC-1 Sociable Cart, which is 3135mm long, 1306mm wide and 1830mm tall. Powered by a DC motor, the SC-1 has a top speed of 19km/h. The vehicle features exterior cameras, LiDAR, and ultrasonic sensors, as well as double wishbone suspension up front, four-wheel disc brakes, and a lithium-polymer battery pack.

Daihatsu, Isuzu, Mazda, Subaru and Suzuki are the latest Japanese automakers to join Monet, a firm led by Toyota and Softbank, and with significant investments from Honda and Hino. The company's first goal is to roll out on-demand car services, and by 2023 it hopes to have self-driving vehicles based on Toyota's e-Palette concepts (above).