The Tornado Project: An Automated Driving Demonstration in Peri-Urban and Rural Areas

This article presents the results of a two-week robot taxi service demonstration in peri-urban and rural areas. A fully robotized Renault Zoe was available for general public use in Rambouillet, France. The driving zone included several complex scenarios, such as a narrow two-way road, a tunnel where the lanes reduced from two to one, and roundabouts, enabling an evaluation of the vehicle’s capabilities. The article describes the scientific and technical development of the car’s perception, navigation, and control to carry out the experiment. The results indicate that even though the vehicle was able to autonomously navigate suburban areas and the countryside, technical challenges remain that limit the car’s integration with the transport system.