Is it possible to ensure safe automated transport in difficult weather conditions. Developers, researchers and regulators gathered in Muonio to tackle this and related issues.
During the Aurora Summit, the specialists examine the opportunities that automated transport offers in terms of the competitiveness of both transport infrastructure management and logistics. They also focus on how legislation can expedite the implementation of automated transport and what new technologies the car industry, component manufacturers and application developers are bringing into the market.
“At the Aurora Summit, participants examine from various angles how the expectations on automated driving in terms of safe and cost-effective mobility can be met in practice in winter”, says Reija Viinanen, Director of Aurora Collaboration.
“Finland’s strength is that we are developing intelligent transport systems that are operational in all conditions, both on land and at sea. In Finland, automated driving is allowed on public roads. Our strong know-how and suitable test ecosystems have enabled us to specialise in challenging conditions.”
The main themes of the Aurora summit taking place in Muonio on 16 and 17 January 2018 include automated cars, such as safety and the preparedness of the car industry. The summit participants also discuss automated maritime transport, safe navigation and maritime collaboration in the Arctic region.
The summit participants also get a chance to drive on the Finnish Transport Agency’s intelligent road Aurora. The 10-kilometre intelligent road section located on Main Road 21 offers opportunities for testing automated vehicles and their related technologies in challenging road and weather conditions. The road is equipped to support the technical performance of the vehicles. The road users’ services are based on real-time data gained about the road and road conditions.
The intelligent road Aurora is an open testing platform. It is part of Finland’s effort to be profiled as a pioneer in the testing of automated winter driving.
Photo: (c) Markus Kiili, Finnish Transport Agency