Jaguar Land Rover has announced that it is currently demonstrating self-driving technology that will enable its fleet of vehicles to locate vacant parking spaces independently and then proceed to park them without any input from the driver.
The UK manufacturer has said its self-driving valet will help the company make the transition towards fully autonomous vehicles. The automotive industry is transfixed on automation and self-driving technology which is destined to reshape the entire industry.
However, fresh concerns have been expressed over the safety of autonomous cars after a self-driving Uber car struck and killed a pedestrian in Arizona earlier this month - and last week a Tesla car believed to be in automation mode was also involved in a fatal collision.
Jaguar Land Rover confirmed that tests were being conducted on a public road in Milton Keynes in conjunction with UK Autodrive, which is a consortium that tests autonomous cars and connected technologies.
Jaguar Land Rover's Chief Engineer for automated driving, Joerg Schlinkheider said the company would continue to make significant investments in self-driving technology and said its innovations would make its customers' lives safer.
He said, "We're investing heavily in automated technologies to make our customers' lives safer and more convenient. Reducing the everyday stress of driving - like squeezing into a tight parking place - means that we can all focus on the more enjoyable aspects of our cars."
The connected technology between the two companies allows the cars to communicate with each other and the surrounding environment, which assists both drivers to make better decisions. The two features being tested in Milton Keynes are Emergency Vehicle Warning and Electronic Emergency Brake Light.
According to Jaguar Land Rover their primary objective and ultimate vision is to "make the self-driving car viable in the widest range of real-life, on- and off-road driving environments and weather."
