AllDrive

Purpose and goal

This project aims to address the challenges of autonomous driving of articulated heavy-duty vehicles in all-weather road conditions. The overall project aim is to perform research and development towards demonstrating a complete working friction estimation and autonomous vehicle system, capable of safe driving in a variety of critical conditions, particularly during rainy or wintry conditions. The project aims to provide a key area of understanding towards future 24/7/365 operation of driverless vehicles. Project results should benefit also manually driven vehicles.

Expected effects and result

The project´s primary results encompass 1) Research & develop novel friction estimation methods capable of understanding friction beneath and in front of a heavy-duty vehicle, using a variety of sensors, signal processing and self-learning methods. 2) Research & develop motion planning and control functionalities capable of driving heavy-duty vehicles under adverse weather conditions. 3) Demonstrate a variety of key scenarios with integrated friction estimation and autonomous vehicle system. 4) Prepare friction estimation methods for autonomous & manually driven vehicles.

Planned approach and implementation

The project comprises 6 key work packages across the technical areas of friction estimation, motion planning, motion controls and project demonstrations. The project will deliver both technical knowledge and demonstrable prototypes during the course of the project. The project partners in industry are Scania & Klimator and in academia, KTH & Luleå Universities. The project supports 2 industrial and 1 academic PhD. The project plans for yearly technical demonstrations, particularly during winter periods, complemented by year road testing.