SARTRE Projects Tests Platooning on Public Roads

Europe's SARTRE (short for SAfe Road TRains for the Environment) says it has successfully tested a three-vehicle automated convoy on public highways in Spain at speeds of 53 mph.

The technology enables a train of cars to closely follow a professionally driven lead vehicle. The SARTRE vehicles traveled less than 10 feet apart in the latest test, which covered 124 miles in one day. Each car uses a variety of sensors to monitor the lead vehicle and others, including nearby cars that are not in the platoon. The participating vehicles use a wireless network among themselves to maintain position on the highway.

SARTRE, which began three years ago, is partly funded by the European Commission. The project's mission is to show how autonomous driving can save fuel and improve safety without requiring major changes to the roadway or vehicles. The researchers say the next phase in the program will focus on the fuel-saving potential of platooning.

The project is led by Ricardo U.K. Ltd. and includes Volvo Car, Volvo Technology, Applus+Idlada, the Institute fur Kraftfahrzeuge Aachen, SP Technical Research Institute and Tecnalia Research & Innovation.