The Coventry-based car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover is currently developing a system that will allow the driver to control a vehicle from the outside using an app via a smartphone.
The company has demonstrated a Remote Control Range Rover Sport prototype vehicle being driven by an app that can control steering, brakes and accelerator. For slippery and muddy conditions wherein it is very hard to drive a vehicle, the app can also change gears between high and low range.
However, the system is currently limited to a maximum speed of 4 miles per hour only and an estimated range of 30 feet between the vehicle and the driver. If the driver gets out of range and the smart key cannot be detected, the system will automatically stop the vehicle.
As of the moment, Jaguar Land Rover believes the Remote Control Range Rover Sport system can be applied to situations such as a driver needing to maneuver a vehicle almost trapped in a tight spot or if a lone driver wants to check if there is enough clearance and act as a spotter when off-roading, particularly when guiding a car over obstacles like deep holes or rocky surfaces.
The system can also be used when one's vehicle needs to be piloted in reverse to get out of a parking space when another vehicle has parked too near or if one door cannot be opened.
A Multi-Point Turn function has been included in the system wherein the Range Rover Sport can automatically self-drive through 180 degrees and point the vehicle in the opposite direction. This feature can be very handy for overcrowded car parks, dead-end streets or the tricky three-point turn that is commonly the least favorite maneuver for many drivers.
The system on board the vehicle has been incorporated with sensors to assess the space available to the Range Rover Sport and any vehicles, pedestrians and other objects that need to be avoided.
"Research into technologies like these won't only help us deliver an autonomous car. They will help make real driving safer and more enjoyable. The same sensors and systems that will help an autonomous car make the right decisions, will assist the driver and enhance the experience to help prevent accidents," stated Dr. Wolfgang Epple, Jaguar Land Rover's director of research and technology. He added that these autonomous car technologies being developed should not be an obstacle to the fun of driving. Check out the video featuring Remote Control Range Rover Sport system.
