Tata group’s flagship Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is developing smarter cars that will offer a completely personalised driving experience and help prevent accidents by reducing driver distraction.
Using the latest machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques, JLR’s proposed car will offer a comprehensive array of services to the driver, owing to a new learning algorithm that recognises who the driver is and learns their preferences and driving style.
The software then applies this learning by using a range of variables including your calendar, the time of day, traffic conditions and the weather to predict driver behaviour and take over many of the daily driving ‘chores’, allowing the driver to concentrate on the road ahead.
“The aim of our self—learning technology is to minimise driver distraction, which will help reduce the risk of accidents,” Wolfgang Epple, Director of Research and Technology for JLR, said.
“Presenting the driver with information just at the right time whilst driving will reduce both cognitive distraction and the need for the driver to look away from the road to scroll through phone lists, or adjust mirrors, temperature or seat functions while on the road,” he said.
Epple added that up until now most self—learning car research has only focused on traffic or navigation prediction.
“We want to take this a significant step further and our new learning algorithm means information learnt about you will deliver a completely personalised driving experience and enhance driving pleasure,” he said.
The intelligent car will recognise the driver by the smartphone or other device in their pocket and by the time the driver has opened the car door, the mirrors, steering wheel and seat settings will all be set to the individual’s preferences.
The cabin will be pre—set to the desired temperature — and be intelligent enough to change it if it is snowing or raining.
Through the ‘Smart Assistant’, the car will also review your schedule for the day and intelligently pre—set the navigation depending on traffic conditions to avoid congestion.
It will also predict your next destination based on your schedule.
The self—learning car will also know if you are going to the gym, and will have learnt that you prefer a certain temperature on the way there to warm—up, and a different temperature to cool down on your way home.
The self—learning car will also be able to learn an individual’s driving style in a range of traffic conditions and on different types of road.
“By developing a learning function for Adaptive Cruise Control, it is technology concepts like the self—learning car that will ensure any future intelligent car remains fun and rewarding to drive as we move closer to more autonomous driving over the next 10 years,” Epple said.
“This is important because in the future customers will still want an emotional connection and a thrilling drive — with the ability to drive autonomously when required,” he added.
The personalised experience would also not be limited to the car owned by the driver, the car will recognise the driver and passengers and offer them the same preferences learned by their vehicle at home.
JLR, bought over by Tata Motors back in 2008, has been at the heart of Britain’s automotive industry turnaround.
