Volkswagen demonstrates self-driving car

Flying cars might still be on the drawing board, but automakers are making progress toward futuristic advances in driving. The latest example from Volkswagen is a car that can essentially drive itself.

Volkswagen presented its Temporary Auto Pilot (TAP) system this week at the European Union research project HAVEit (Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport).

Monitored by the driver, the car can drive semiautomatically at speeds of up to 80 mph.

Intended to reduce driver errors, the system uses technologies such as like lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, drive at a speed selected by the driver, reduce speed before a curve and maintain proper lane position.

"Nonetheless, the driver always retains driving responsibility and is always in control," said Juergen Leohold of Volkswagen. "The driver can override or deactivate the system at any time and must continually monitor it."

Unlike the Google Street View and artificial-intelligence software that Google is using on its driverless-car project, the Volkswagen system uses the radar, camera and ultrasonic-based sensors available on production-level vehicles and adds a laser scanner and electric horizon monitor.

"One conceivable scenario for its initial use might be in monotonous driving situations," Leohold said, "in traffic jams or over sections of a driving route that are exceedingly speed-limited."

No word on when this system could be brought to market, but it is likely sooner than Google's, as the VW system uses a lot of already-implemented technology.

By Julie Alvin