A specially adapted version of the company’s flagship A7 coupé covered over 500 miles to get from Silicon Valley to Las Vegas with much of the time spent traveling on full auto pilot.
In all, the journey covered 560 miles (900km) with an Audi test driver in the passenger seat and a number of invited journalists in the back, each of whom got a chance to sit in the driver’s seat for some hands-off experience.
The purpose of the trip was to demonstrate the capabilities of a host of production-ready sensors as well as the A7’s existing standard sensors and assisted driving technology.
Working together the sensors can take over driving duties at speeds of up to 70mph (just over 110 km/h), keeping a safe speed and safe distance from the vehicle in front, and able to initiate lane-changing maneuvers.
When the system hits its current limitations such as in congested city center situations, the driver is prompted to take charge once more.
Unlike in previous years, at the 2015 International CES Audi is by no means alone in using the event to demonstrate its latest breakthroughs in terms of piloted, connected and autonomous driving.
Mercedes, Ford and BMW as well as Audi’s parent, Volkswagen, have all taken to the stage this week to show what is already possible and to highlight where the future of self-driving cars is heading.