The arrival of winter in the northern hemisphere has brought a fresh and challenging environment for automated driving systems. As snow and ice begin to cover roads, companies are testing their self-driving technologies under extreme conditions to ensure safety and reliability.
Last month, Waymo revealed plans to test its autonomous vehicles on snowy and icy roads in Detroit, USA. Shortly after, Russian tech giant Yandex also announced similar efforts, conducting autopilot trials on snow-covered surfaces. Now, the latest player entering this space is the Dutch company VTT.
Founded in 1942, VTT is the largest multidisciplinary research institute in the Nordic region. It has developed an autonomous driving prototype called Martti, based on a Volkswagen Touareg, and tested it in northern Finland. VTT may be the first company to fully test its autonomous system on snow-covered roads, as both Waymo and Yandex had only tested on thin layers of snow.
According to available data, Martti successfully navigated roads covered with about 3 inches (7.6 cm) of snow, traveling at speeds up to 25 mph. The prototype is equipped with a range of sensors, including cameras, antennas, and lidars, which are essential for navigation in low-visibility conditions.
As shown in the image below, the road surface is completely buried under snow, making lane markings and road edges nearly invisible. It's likely that VTT relies on high-precision maps combined with GPS for vehicle positioning, ensuring accurate navigation even when traditional visual cues are unavailable.
The VTT vehicle’s level of autonomy is believed to be between L3 and L4, meaning it can operate without human intervention during the entire journey, although testers are still present in the car. This represents a significant step forward in autonomous technology, especially in harsh weather environments.
Finland experiences long winters lasting 4–6 months, with average snowfall of 3–5 cm. With such conditions, VTT could be the first to develop an autonomous driving system specifically designed for these tough winter climates, setting a new benchmark for the industry.
VTT is also collaborating with Ecsel, a European electronics company, on the DENSE project. Together, they are working on advanced sensors capable of performing well in heavy rain and fog—challenges that further test the limits of autonomous systems.
While many countries are now developing localized autonomous driving solutions, China and the United States remain at the forefront in terms of technological advancement and innovation. These two regions host the most active and dynamic ecosystems for smart driving development.
In January 2018, the "China-US Smart Driving White Paper" will be released, offering a comprehensive overview of opportunities and challenges across the smart driving industry. It will also provide insights into the development status, product strategies, and market approaches of emerging companies. Stay tuned for more updates.
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