Motorists could ‘watch films and sleep’ behind the wheel in driverless cars by 2021, Volvo claims
MOTORISTS could be able to "watch a movie or sleep" behind the wheel from 2021, according to a Volvo executive.
The Swedish manufacturer has claimed their driverless technology will be ready for drivers to perform other tasks while on the road within the next three years.
Henrik Green, Volvo's Senior Vice President of Research and Development, the company's driverless system would allow motorists “to eat, sleep, work, watch a movie, relax or do whatever".
The system would allegedly be available for the marquee's next generation of XC90 SUVs, and would operate on Level 4 autonomy - meaning no driver intervention is required.
But the system wouldn't work on just any road.
According to Green, Volvo's technology would only apply to major motorways, using mapping and laser technology to navigate the high-speed roads.
The levels of autonomous driving
Level 1: The first level of autonomy means the driver remains in control of the car the entire time. Steering and acceleration can be controlled by the car. These systems are already on sale and include self-parking and lane assit
Level 2: These require drivers to pay attention to their surroundings and be prepared to "take control of the vehicle in specific situations". Drivers have to keep their hands on the wheel just in case, too. Tesla Autopilot currently displays this level.
Level 3: These cars can make decisions for themselves without the need for driver inputs in certain situations. The Audi A8 can offer this tech - regulation permitting - with the ability to drive itself up to 37mph and goes on sale next year.
Level 4: These are true "driverless cars" that can navigate without any driver help and can independently indicate, brake and steer. These won't be on sale until 2021 at the earliest.
Level 5: The end goal is a car that doesn't need a driver at all - there might not even be pedals or a steering wheel. Google is currently developing an example of this with its Waymo project.
The manufacturer has labelled their technology "Highway Pilot", and it's expected to be offered as a premium add-on with a "four-figure" value.
Green's claims come as a surprise considering Volvo's announcement late last year that they would be delaying their driverless trials for up to four years.
The company had allegedly run into problems with their fleet of fully autonomous motors, and would not be testing the technology until at least 2021.
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If the Highway Pilot system is ready for that date, it could be one of the first fully autonomous systems in operation.
But global traffic laws will need to catch up first, with Volvo's tech likely to roll out on US roads first before coming to Europe.
everything you need to know about driverless cars
Certain lower levels of autonomy are already available in current cars, with Tesla using mainly Level 2 and Audi's A8 operating on Level 3.
Both of those still require full driver attention to ensure a human is ready to take over at any time.
Following last year's Autumn Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond revealed plans to cut red tape on testing to allow driverless cars on to UK roads by 2021, pledging £150 million for new job training and self-driving research projects.