Autonomous driving explained

How our self-driving cars work

Six ways that autonomous driving will improve your life

Reclaim your time

In a self-driving Volvo car you will be able to spend the time on your commute as you want. You will be free to read a book, work, watch a movie or even learn a new skill. With the average commute taking about 50 minutes, this will have a huge impact on our lives.

Save Fuel

In autonomous mode a self-driving car is likely to use less fuel. It will know where it is and what's ahead, and be able to optimise the behaviour of the brakes, powertrain and transmission to make progress as smooth and efficient as possible.

Safer journeys

Fully autonomous cars will be even better at avoiding potential collisions than today's Volvos. Almost all road accidents are caused by human error, so journeys will be safer for everyone.

Sit back and relax

In an autonomous car you'll be able to truly relax. Your car will be able to drive the most boring parts of your commute for you and long journeys will be effortless, so you will always arrive fresh at your destination.

Always find a parking space

In the future, you'll be able to let your car park itself, while you get on with other things. Autonomous cars will be able to find and park in a space, and even drop you off where you want to go first.

Lower insurance premiums

Insurance premiums for self-driving cars could be much lower in the future. Autonomous technology won't get tired or distracted, greatly reducing the chance of a costly collision.

Published 12:00 AM, November 18 2015

The Volvo Concept 26 is our vision of how autonomous technology could re-shape the car interior and transform the commute into an enjoyable luxury experience.

Unveiled at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, Concept 26 is named after the length of time that drivers spend, on average, on their daily commute. Research by Volvo Cars suggests that, for many people, the journey to and from work and - long-haul motorway trips - are the times when they would be most willing to delegate driving to an autonomous car.

Concept 26 was developed to show how the cabin of a self-driving Volvo could allow this time to be spent in a meaningful way. It also demonstrates how autonomous technology will create a new type of luxury experience.

Robin Page, vice president of interior design at Volvo Cars, said: "It's all about people. Our research clearly shows that some people will want to use their commuting time creatively when they have full autonomous drive available, while others will want to just sit back and relax, watch online media or listen to music. Autonomous drive will make all of this possible. This is what Concept 26 has captured by reimagining the entire car experience."

Based on the same Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform that underpins the new XC90, the C26 has a radical interior that combines beautiful Scandinavian design with cutting-edge technology.

At the heart of it is a patented seat design that actively cradles the driver for maximum comfort, whether they are driving or doing other things. When the driver chooses to delegate driving to the car, the steering wheel can be retracted and the seat reclined to make the most of the available space. A foldable tray table provides extra work or leisure space, while a 25-inch media screen flips up from the passenger side of the dashboard to provide entertainment and information.

Concept 26 offers three modes to optimize the interior according to the driver's needs: Drive, Create and Relax.

Drive mode minimises distraction when the car is driven manually, providing a pure driving experience. Create mode allows the seat, table and display screens to be configured in different ways to support work or recreational activities. In Relax mode the seat adopts a supportive, reclined position, allowing the driver to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Concept 26 highlights the huge potential that autonomous technology has to improve people's lives, as well as Volvo Cars' status as a pioneer in this area. Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Car Group, said: "We have gone to great lengths to understand the challenges and opportunities that autonomous cars will bring to people in coming years, and our flexible approach to engineering and design, enabled by our new Scalable Product Architecture, means that we can readily bring this from concept to reality."

Autonomous technology - the Volvo Cars strategy

The self-driving car will save lives, create a better environment and turn the commute into a productive journey. These are the key parts of our strategy for self-driving cars - a safer, sustainable future in which our cars improve how we live and travel.

Society

Fewer crashes, better driving Autonomous technology will eradicate human errors, making driving safer for everyone. Self-driving cars will obey traffic laws and there will be no possibility for irrational, emotional behavior behind the wheel. The potential to avoid crashes and save lives is enormous.	Improved mobility If you aren't mobile enough to drive you will gain new freedom with autonomous cars that will do the driving for you. Self-driving cars will allow more people to live independent lifestyles
Extra urban space Cars that can park themselves will revolutionize urban planning by reducing the need for car parks next to offices and retail areas. Autonomous cars will be able to drop you off and then park elsewhere, returning to pick you up when required. The space that is currently used for car parks could be used for something else.	Better traffic flow In a future where autonomous cars communicate with each other and the road network via the cloud, traffic will flow more smoothly, easing congestion and making journeys more enjoyable. Self-driving cars will be able to merge into traffic and plan ahead more efficiently than those with human drivers.

Economy

Less congestion Connected technology and better all-round awareness means that autonomous cars will reduce congestion, saving millions of wasted hours on the road.	Increased productivity Autonomous cars will allow drivers to use their time in the car as they choose - relaxing or working as desired. The car could become an extension of the office and allow commuters to arrive at work less stressed and better prepared.
Fewer costly accidents By reducing human error and the likelihood of accidents, autonomous technology will drastically reduce the amount of money that is lost as a result of collisions. Compensation, lost time and healthcare currently cost the global economy billions.	New revenue streams Drivers will able to relax and do other things in self-driving cars, making them a place of leisure and commerce. Online connectivity will allow those on board to shop and enjoy media, opening up new retail and marketing opportunities for brands and services.

Environment

Better fuel economy, lower emissions Autonomous, connected cars will be able to drive more efficiently, reducing fuel consumption and harmful emissions. Better anticipation and communication with other cars will reduce stop/start traffic and heavy braking, and they will be able to form safe, tightly packed 'road trains' that reduce aerodynamic drag at speed.	Lighter cars If all vehicles were autonomous and could communicate with each other, crashes would be all but eradicated. This means they could be made safe without the need for heavy protective safety features, significantly reducing their overall weight. This, in turn, would make them much more efficient.
Easier to go electric Zero-emissions electric cars will be a viable option for more drivers thanks to autonomous technology. Self-driving electric cars will be able to get themselves to and from a charging point or battery swap station, so owners will no longer need a charging point at their home or workplace.	More flexible ownership Autonomous cars will open up the possibility of new methods of ownership that could reduce the overall number of cars, and therefore pollution. You won't need to drive or park a fully autonomous car yourself, and because they would be called up only when needed, shared ownership could become more common.

Published 12:00 AM, November 13 2015

Erik Coelingh - Senior Technical Leader for Safety and Driver Support Technologies, explains Volvo Cars' unique approach to autonomous driving

"We put the person at the centre, not the technology. It's about making sure the person is relaxed and enjoys the journey"