[NewsPoster]

Jaguar Land Rover has revealed some of the prototype technologies that its UK-based research team are developing to deliver autonomous driving in the future. A Remote Control Range Rover Sport research vehicle demonstrates how a driver could drive the vehicle from outside the car through a smartphone -- as shown by the company, specifically an iPhone.

The smartphone app includes control of steering, accelerator and brakes, as well as changing from high and low range. This would allow the driver to walk alongside the car, at a maximum speed of four miles per hour, to maneuver the car out of challenging situations safely, or even to negotiate difficult off-road terrain.

By walking alongside the car, the driver could continually check ramp, approach, and departure angles, and allow precise positioning of the vehicle when rock crawling. It could also be an aid when the vehicle is fording a stream, or traversing sections made slippery by mud or snow.

The remote control function will only operate if the user is within 10 meters (33 feet) of the car, and if the smart key can be detected -- the system will stop the vehicle if the driver moves out of range, or gets too close. Future possibilities for this technology could include more autonomous functionality, where the driver gives a simple command from the handset to traverse an obstacle or exit a parking space, and the car does the rest.

Land Rover has given no indication of when the combination car and app will be deployed, or how much it will cost. The pair are part of a larger initiative for autonomous technologies, that the company hopes will "enhance the driver experience."

[jdonahoe]

I can still see people accidentally gunning the engine and crashing the car "remotely".

[yticolev]

Should be a cool app for terrorists who don't want to be in the vehicle when it explodes!

[Mike Wuerthele]

At all of four miles per hour, it redefines "slow speed chase."

[aviamquepasa]

yticolev
some terrorists are eager to die and go to their 100 virgins, je, je