Volvo Tests Self-driving Cars for First Time in Spain

For the first time in the world of auto, a brigade of self-driving cars have taken a test drive on public motorway in Spain. 

Swedish automakers Volvo, took over a Spanish public motorway under the supervision of a professional driver. The driver was given a set of clear instructions to monitor a brigade of vehicles such as a truck, followed by four self-driven Volvo vehicles, states Volvo in an official media briefing. All safety and protection methods were followed to avoid any untowardly incidents. The self-driving vehicles were equipped with safety systems, which included cameras, radar and laser sensors. All the vehicles were installed with laser sensors to enable them to monitor the lead vehicle which was driven by a professional driver and other vehicles on the road.

"By adding in wireless communication, the vehicles in the platoon mimic the lead vehicle using Ricardo autonomous control, accelerating, braking and turning in exactly the same way as the leader," Said Volvo in an official statement.

Further reports confirm that the self-driving cars by Volvo successfully managed to drive for 24 miles along a motorway outside Spain's north eastern city of Barcelona.

"It is quite funny to see the passing vehicles," Project Manager for Volvo, Linda Wahlstrom said. "They (were) quite surprised seeing me not driving the car but reading a magazine. We've learnt a whole lot during this period. People think that autonomous driving is science fiction but the fact is that the technology is already here. From the purely conceptual viewpoint, it works fine and the road train will be around in one form or another in the future."