Auto Pilot is coming to cars soon, very soon. Volkswagen in conjunction with HAVEIt (Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport) is close to finishing development on their TAP (Temporary Auto Pilot) system. The TAP system currently allows for the standard automated functions that are being added to cars like collision avoidance and holding speed and distance in a cruise control mode. What it can do though that most cars can’t do is change speeds based on the signs that its camera picks up, detect construction and slow down, prevent right lane passing, conduct emergency braking, and provide a driver distraction warning.

Those functions are to support the driver in monotonous driving like long drives and stop and go traffic. The way it does this is through a monitoring platform that includes radar, cameras, ultrasonic based sensors which are supplemented with laser scanners and electronic horizon. With the click of a button, this hardware powers a system that combines adaptive cruise control, the Lane Assist lane-keeping system, and Side Assist lane-changing monitoring systems. While these systems can for the most part handle the driving of a vehicle, Volkswagen’s Executive Director of Group Research Dr. Jurgen Leohold states, “The driver always retains driving responsibility and is always in control. The driver can override or deactivate the system at any time and must continually monitor it.” Even while meant to be semi-automated, this system is an exciting step forward to a world of fully automated vehicles.