German car drives itself for 80 km of city traffic

A modified Passat bristling with lasers and sensors drove itself through regular Berlin traffic for 80 km.  Equipment includes top-of-the-line GPS, a B&W camera to watch traffic lines, two color cameras to interpret traffic lights  (46 were successfully passed), three fixed perimeter laser scanners and one rooftop rotating scanner.  The researchers got licensing approved back in June and have driven thousands of test kilometers before giving this public demo.

This is the first time car-sharing made sense to me.  After dropping you off, it can drive off and pick up others.


Stanford University also has a modified Passat
for which video is available.  Watch it self park.