Renault is working on a prototype of an autonomous vehicle for the industrial environment, without a driver in a controlled environment, at the Palencia Factory. It will be supported by the use of connected infrastructure and new algorithms based on artificial intelligence.
It is part of the R3CAV project, of which Alsa GMW, Indra are part. Masermic, Masmovil and Sigma, which positions them at the forefront of the technologies necessary to develop future autonomous and connected vehicles.
Together with the autonomous vehicle prototype, they are working on a vehicle whose future functionality will be a shuttle, for the transport of people in the town of Alcobendas, Madrid. In this case, in addition to connectivity and communication systems, autonomous navigation and positioning systems are also being developed.
After a start marked by a pandemic context, the partners have held their first face-to-face work meeting at the Renault Group R&D Center in Valladolid to continue advancing in this project, which is part of the National Plan for Recovery, Transformation and Resilience , and which is financed with the Next Generation EU funds, which aims to contribute to the development of relevant technologies for application in the automotive field; enable a rapid recovery of the sector based on the strengthening of innovative capacities and address the challenges of sustainable mobility, zero emissions and connected and autonomous vehicles.
The R3CAV project (Robust, Reliable and Resilient Connected and Automated Vehicle for people transport) includes the development of a new adaptable architecture -both hardware and software- aimed at creating future autonomous and connected vehicles, capable of operating with different levels of autonomy.
Specifically, the project will address the following three challenges: the development of a new level L4 prototype, which is being developed in Palencia. They are highly automated vehicles capable of operating in controlled environments, capable of managing complex interactions with the environment thanks to the help of an advanced infrastructure, which will be a redundant source of information for the vehicle.
Secondly, the development of a new autonomous and connected electric vehicle platform for future application as an adaptable and modular shuttle for the transport of people in urban circuits, whose level of automation will grow progressively from a L2 level (assistance systems to advanced driving) up to L3 (with low supervision).
Third, the development of 5G communications technology for connected vehicles, such as an advanced driver assistance system. This challenge aims to inform and recommend the most appropriate actions to the driver, taking control of the vehicle if necessary.
In addition to the partners, the project has the collaboration of seven top-level research centers, four universities (UPM, UC3M, UMU and UMH) and three technology centers (Tecnalia, CTAG and Tekniker). The Renault Group R&D Center in Valladolid, which has more than 1,000 engineers, is the operations center leading this project.
