Volvo tests road magnets for accurate positioning of self-driving cars

Volvo Car Group has completed a research project using magnets in the roadway to help the car determine its position. The research, which has been financed in strategic co-operation with the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), is
a potential key to the implementation of self-driving vehicles.

Reliable and highly accurate positioning is one of the crucial issues in the development of self-driving cars.

While established positioning technologies such as GPS and cameras have limitations in certain conditions, road-integrated magnets remain unaffected by physical obstacles and poor weather conditions.

"The magnets create an invisible 'railway' that literally paves the way for a positioning inaccuracy of less than one decimetre. We have tested the technology at a variety of speeds and the results so far are promising," said Jonas Ekmark, Preventive Safety Leader at Volvo Car Group.

Volvo Cars plays a leading role in a large-scale autonomous driving pilot project in which 100 self-driving Volvo cars will use public roads in everyday driving conditions around the Swedish city of Gothenburg.

"Our aim is for the car to be able to handle the driving all by itself. Accurate, reliable positioning is a necessary prerequisite for a self-driving car," Jonas added. "It is fully possible to implement autonomous vehicles without changes to the present infrastructure. However, this technology adds interesting possibilities, such as complementing road markings with magnets."

Volvo Cars' research team created a 100-metre long test track at the company's testing facilities in Hallered outside Gothenburg, Sweden. A pattern of round ferrite magnets (40x15 mm) was located 200 mm below the road surface. The car was equipped with several magnetic field sensors.

The research programme was designed to evaluate crucial issues, such as detection range, reliability, durability, cost and the impact on road maintenance.

"The test results are very interesting, especially when adding the potential for improved safety as well the advantages for the development of self-driving vehicles. A large-scale implementation of road magnets could very well be part of Sweden's aim to pioneer technology that contributes to sustainable mobility," said Claes Tingvall, Traffic Safety Director at the Swedish Transport Administration.

Posted in: Advance Technology,Claes Tingvall,Europe,Gothenburg,Jonas Ekmark,Self-Driven,Sweden,Volvo,Volvo Car Group