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.

Starting with a roadway cleanup back in March, the CarLocate Crew has continued to participate in monthly volunteer events as an effort to give back to the community and environment. Following up the cleanup and tree planting at a local park back in April, the Crew teamed up with Dayton History last Friday and cleaned up Carillon Park prior to the 2011 Dayton Heritage Festival.

Many storms had recently hit the area so, there was an abundance of tree limbs that needed to be cleared out. The park had just dedicated some new portions of the park and to help clean up those areas, members of the Crew fought through the woods to remove litter. While they did not collect nearly as much as when they participated in the Ohio Roadway Cleanup, the impact was just as big. You can see in some of these pictures that some of this trash has probably been there for years!

As a part of the State Roadway Cleanup in Ohio, the CarLocate Crew is teaming up and volunteering with the Montgomery County Solid Waste Department. Tomorrow morning, they will literally hit the roads and pick up garbage and recycleables in an effort to keep Ohio beautiful.

For more information on the cleanup, check out the website for the Montgomery County Solid Waste Department. To see some pics of what should be an interesting morning.... check back here next week!