Audi calls it “piloted driving” but what it means for you and me is a high degree of hands-off travelling while the car’s “auto pilot” takes over. And to prove the concept Audi set up one of its fastest road cars for a driverless trip around Hockenheim race track in Germany at speeds of
up to 240km/h.

The driverless Audi RS7 Sportback did a lap of Hockenheim race track on Sunday October 19 in the season finale of the German Touring Car Championship (DTM).
With the latest Audi developments on board, the technology platform drove to its physical limits with millimetre-perfect precision. In the process, it was approximately as fast as with a professional racing driver at the wheel.

Using the Audi
RS7 piloted driving concept car Audi wants to show the great potential of piloted driving, which the premium carmaker is developing for the future.
“Piloted driving” is the keyword for the intensive development of assistance systems. The engineers and technicians at Audi and at Volkswagen Group Research are integrating ideas that show how the future might look into the “James 2025” interior mockup concept.
Particular attention has been paid to the transitions between conventional and piloted driving.
In the James 2025, a compact monitor which extends upward electrically in the driver‘s field of view serves as a virtual cockpit, replacing the analogue instruments. The second display – a central monitor – is perched on top of the instrument panel and measures 23cm. A narrow LED strip runs along the lower edge of the cockpit. The controls on the console of the centre tunnel are completely new. In piloted driving mode, the steering wheel is able to recede a little, as can the pedals, on request from the driver.
A simulated drive in the interior model James 2025 begins in town. The navigation system knows the destination, but the driver steers the car himself the first few kilometres because of the complexities of town driving. Besides the usual information such as speed and assistance systems, the virtual cockpit also displays a countdown showing how much time remains before reaching the point where piloted driving can begin.
As soon as this point is reached, such as at the start of a developed highway or at an expressway on-ramp, the LED strip lights up white. Two buttons on the rim of the steering wheel also light up. If the driver pushes both simultaneously, the car takes over the driving. Piloted driving, which allows the driver to retain control at all times, begins.
Both the appearance and functions of the instrument panel change. The light from the LED strip turns turquoise and runs inward from the ends of the cockpit. The virtual cockpit is retracted, and a new, smaller monitor extends from the center of the instrument panel. It visualises all of the key information regarding piloted driving, such as passing manoeuvres and the time remaining.
This driving situation allows the driver to relax because the system provides continuous assistance, and intervenes when necessary.
A large touchpad on the centre tunnel console is used to control the infotainment system. It understands both gestures and character input. A gentle flow of air lets the hand know when it is in the active space for gestures. Because an infrared camera tracks the motions, the driver does not have to touch the pad.
Approximately 20 seconds before reaching the point where piloted driving will be discontinued, the instrument panel returns to its initial state. The display for piloted driving disappears; the virtual cockpit rises up again and shows the driver the countdown for taking back control. The light from the LED strip is now orange.
When the end of the piloted driving segment is reached, the driver pushes the two buttons on the rim of the steering wheel to assume control again. If the driver does not do this, a staged alarm concept is activated.
The LED light changes from orange to red, and an acoustic signal is also sounded. If the driver ignores all of these warnings, the car comes to a complete stop at a suitable location.