The arrival of winter in the northern hemisphere has introduced a fresh and challenging environment for autonomous driving systems. As snow and ice begin to cover roads, companies are pushing their self-driving technologies to new limits.
Last month, Waymo announced that its self-driving vehicles would be tested on snow and ice-covered roads in Detroit, USA. Soon after, Yandex, a leading Russian tech company, also revealed plans to test its autopilot systems on snowy terrain. Now, a new player is stepping into the scene: VTT, a Dutch research organization with a long history of innovation.
Founded in 1942, VTT is one of the largest research institutes in the Nordic region. Recently, they developed an autonomous driving prototype called Martti, based on a Volkswagen Touareg. The prototype was tested on snow-covered roads in northern Finland. According to available information, VTT may be the first company to fully test its self-driving system on deep snow, as previous tests by Waymo and Yandex were conducted on thinner layers of snow.
From the data released, Martti successfully navigated through about 7.6 centimeters of snow at a speed of approximately 25 mph. The vehicle is equipped with a range of sensors, including cameras, antennas, and lidars, which help it perceive the environment even when visibility is low.
As shown in the image below, the road is completely covered in snow, making lane markings and road edges nearly invisible. It's likely that VTT uses high-precision maps combined with GPS to ensure accurate positioning in such conditions.
Martti is expected to operate at Level 3 or 4 autonomy, meaning it can drive without human intervention during the entire journey, although testers are present in the vehicle for safety and monitoring purposes.
Finland experiences long winters lasting 4 to 6 months, with an average snowfall of 3 to 5 cm. This makes it a perfect testing ground for developing autonomous systems capable of handling harsh winter conditions. VTT’s efforts could set a new standard for self-driving technology in cold climates.
In addition to its snow testing, VTT is collaborating with Ecsel, a European electronics company, on the DENSE project. Together, they are working on advanced sensors designed to function effectively in heavy rain and fog—challenging weather conditions that many current systems struggle with.
While many countries have started to develop localized autonomous driving solutions, China and the United States remain at the forefront of the industry. Both nations host the most advanced and innovative companies in the field.
Looking ahead, the "China-US Smart Driving White Paper" will be released in January 2018. This report will provide insights into the opportunities and challenges across the smart driving industry chain, while highlighting the strategies and market positions of emerging players. Stay tuned for more updates.
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