Self-driving car to make cross country trip

Last month we wrote a post about the Detroit International Auto show and how automakers were showcasing concept cars that ostensibly give us a peek into the future. Part of this future includes self-driving cars, which automakers have hinted could be on the road by the end of this decade.

If you are a car enthusiast, or have purchased a luxury model in the past few years, you understand that there are elements of autonomous automobiles already in practice. They include park assist functions, intelligent cruise control modules and automatic braking systems, to name a few. Even with these advancements, testing is still being conducted in earnest regarding self-driving cars.

In fact, an Audi SUV is poised to make history by being the first self-driving car to make a cross country trip. The car, which is equipped with technology developed by Delphi Corp. has reportedly been tested on the streets of California and Nevada, but a long distance road trip will be the car’s ultimate test. Essentially, the car will drive on its own, but an engineer will be behind the wheel and ready to take over in the event of an emergency.

According to ABC News.com, the SUV is outfitted with small cameras, lasers and nearly two dozen additional sensors that enable the car to have a 360 degree view of its surroundings. This enables the car to merge into traffic on its own, navigate four-way stops and stop for pedestrians.

It remains to be seen how the car will do in inclement conditions.