Audi reveals driverless prototype

Audi has introduced a glimpse of its A7 piloted driving concept - nicknamed the Jack - displaying a greater level of social interaction than previously seen by the German manufacturer.

According to Audi, the A7 piloted driving concept will operate in traffic just like a human driver, improving the potential to be used in situations with other non-autonomous vehicles on the road.

With more human-like characteristics than a standard A7, the research car Jack has been trailed on the A9 autobahn, which connects Berlin and Munich. It has shown to be capable of dealing with hazards on the road, passing lorries with slightly more space between the truck and car than car and car, and previewing lane changes by activating the indicator and positioning itself closer to the white line before moving out.

This marks the next step in autonomous driving, with driving in conjunction with other vehicles on the road a current concern for the industry.

Audi is also working on the development of its vehicle-to-infrastructure communication - known as V2X, which will be essential for all vehicles to be able to communicate with central infrastructure and each other.

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