IVO Robot Driver

Abstract

Autonomous vehicle technology is at an all-time peak, and forecasts estimate that humankind is less than a decade away from witnessing the first commercially sold autonomous vehicles. However, most of the platforms developed today are very restricting and are not transferable, and it will take a long time before the worldwide fleet of vehicles will be replaced by autonomous vehicles. To overcome this problem, we have designed a unique solution in the form of a robot driver that can transform any current standard vehicle platform into an autonomous vehicle. The robot can be mounted in the driver's seat in several minutes and can operate the steering wheel and the pedals. This paper outlines the architecture, mechanical design, and specific modules of the Intelligent Vehicle Operator (IVO) driver robot and demonstrates a proof of concept.