From the moment the first concept of autonomous driving came out, it was known that it would be part of futuristic mobility. Volkswagen (VW) interpreted it accordingly, which is why the company is dedicating part of time and money to developing vehicles of this type, such as the ID.Buzz, a car that has been spotted running urban tests in Germany.
What started as a concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show in 2017 has been translated into reality with the first test and trial model. Aesthetically, it looks like an ordinary van, sharing many things in common with the iconic Microbus line-up of the automaker’s iconic Microbus.
This model is scheduled to arrive by 2025, though it is still a few years away, VW is working hard to turn it into a totally safe means of transportation, not requiring the presence of a driver.
Volkswagen ID.Buzz is no longer a prototype, meaning that it is very close to reaching the final form in terms of technical and physical details. Aerodynamically, it has an interesting shape with slight slope at the front that extends upward with the gently curved roof until it flows into the rear area.
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The Technology Behind the Volkswagen ID.Buzz
Argo AI has been a collaborator to optimize the autonomous driving of this vehicle and take it to the next level. A large number of sensors located throughout the van demonstrate this, something completely necessary to anticipate any movement or unforeseen event that may occur on the road.
Volkswagen wanted to cover as much ground as possible, therefore, all this high-end equipment and technology is capable of detecting objects present at more than 400 meters away, giving a wide enough margin to react to any vicissitude, or simply execute a regular command with complete peace of mind.
On the roof is a LIDAR scanner that provides 360-degree vision. However, it is not alone; there are also six smaller scanners complementing the work of the main one, along with 11 radar panels, cameras and microphones. All of this is intended to predict what actions might be taken by pedestrians, vehicles, motorized vehicles and cyclists.
Written by | Ronald Ortega
