Photo: http://www.engadget.com
“Can you self drive?” That’s auto industry’s future question to ask. We have no doubt about it. Google, Tesla Motors and some of the giant automakers are already investing millions, heck even NASA jumped on the bandwagon. The latest to join the autonomous car research game? University of Oxford.
The name? Wildcat. The purpose? Well... money. Oh, and road safety. And a future with no traffic congestion. Here’s how everything happened.
BAE Systems, a military gear maker from Bristol, spent about five years and over one million pounds ($1.5 million) in research and development to create what they dubbed Wildcat. The multi-million pounds, driverless vehicle is a 4x4 off-roader manufactured by Bowler, which later was modified by the company’s engineers. It was then donated to the the Department of Engineering Science of Oxford University.
Wildcat is equipped with computer controlled steering servos, an extra braking system and a hotline into the vehicle’s engine management system for speed control. In addition, wireless data links, GPS and laser ranging sensors were installed so that the vehicle could receive instructions, navigate and avoid hitting obstacles.
“Wildcat is the result of years of advanced research and development by BAE. It will allow us to advance our own research into autonomous transport, contributing to a future of autonomy on the roads of Oxford, and around the world,” Dr. Paul Newman at the Department of Engineering Science said upon the arrival of the vehicle.
Sure, it’s not very clear whether the final project will belong to BAE Systems or it’s going to be considered Britain’s first autonomous car, thus belonging to the government, but one thing is clear: the self-driving car competition is getting hotter by the day.
BAE Systems, a military gear maker from Bristol, spent about five years and over one million pounds ($1.5 million) in research and development to create what they dubbed Wildcat. The multi-million pounds, driverless vehicle is a 4x4 off-roader manufactured by Bowler, which later was modified by the company’s engineers. It was then donated to the the Department of Engineering Science of Oxford University.
Wildcat is equipped with computer controlled steering servos, an extra braking system and a hotline into the vehicle’s engine management system for speed control. In addition, wireless data links, GPS and laser ranging sensors were installed so that the vehicle could receive instructions, navigate and avoid hitting obstacles.
“Wildcat is the result of years of advanced research and development by BAE. It will allow us to advance our own research into autonomous transport, contributing to a future of autonomy on the roads of Oxford, and around the world,” Dr. Paul Newman at the Department of Engineering Science said upon the arrival of the vehicle.
Sure, it’s not very clear whether the final project will belong to BAE Systems or it’s going to be considered Britain’s first autonomous car, thus belonging to the government, but one thing is clear: the self-driving car competition is getting hotter by the day.
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