Autonomous Range Rover Sport successfully runs rings around Coventry

A self-driving Range Rover Sport has driven around the Coventry Ring Road completing a full lap of one of the UK’s most challenging roads.

The specially-adapted prototype took to the A4053 as part of an autonomous driving trial, tackling lane changes, merging with traffic and busy junctions in its stride.

Mark Cund, Autonomous Vehicle Research Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, said the Coventry Ring Road is known for its complicated slip roads and exits, which makes it challenging, especially during rush hour traffic.

“Our self-driving car is not impacted by the same pressure, frustrations or fatigue that a driver may experience and so it’s capable of turning a potentially very stressful situation into a completely stress-free one.”

The Range Rover Sport was chosen to be the prototype vehicle thanks to its performance and existing features, such as Adaptive Cruise Control. It was modified to include additional navigation sensors, radar and lidar – a laser measuring system.

This trial will be one of the last under the three-year government-funded Autodrive UK project, which comes to an end later this month.

During the duration of the trials, Jaguar Land Rover engineers have undertaken numerous tests on closed tracks and public roads in Milton Keynes and Coventry. They have also developed connected features such as helping autonomous vehicles to read the road ahead better by communicating with others and the road’s infrastructure.

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