Launched in 1986, the PROMETHEUS project was a pioneering initiative in autonomous driving. Funded by the EUREKA programme of the European Union, it was the largest and most expensive project in the history of autonomous vehicles, costing over €749 million. Mercedes-Benz and other European car manufacturers, universities, and suppliers were involved in the project, which aimed to develop technologies for autonomous driving and intelligent traffic systems.
PROMETHEUS made significant strides in autonomous driving technology. The project’s most notable achievement was the successful autonomous drive of a modified Mercedes-Benz van, christened ‘VaMP’, from Munich in Germany to Copenhagen in Denmark and back again. The journey, covering over 1,000 kilometres, was completed in standard traffic conditions, with the van reaching speeds of up to 130 km/h.
The project also developed the first electronic horizon, a technology that enables vehicles to anticipate the road ahead beyond the driver’s field of vision. Furthermore, it pioneered the first intelligent cruise control system, which used radar sensors to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.
Despite the project’s conclusion in 1995, its impact is still felt today. The technologies developed under PROMETHEUS have become standard features in modern vehicles, laying the groundwork for the autonomous driving systems of the future.
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