The robotic vehicles will be tested on the road in Finland

Some news on the self driving cars in Finland. Taloussanomat writes in “Robottiautot saavat oman testimaantien Suomeen” article that autonomous robot vehicle testing will get a special location in Finland: Fell Lapland will get the world’s first intelligent transport test area in which the technologies can be tested under extreme conditions, as well as a closed test track and right on the highway. Highway 21, 70 kilometers between Kolari and Muonio, is planned to get renovation of the road, and in the renovation it would be equipped with needed facilities (electrical power and broadband communications). It is believed that in extreme conditions it is essential that autonomous cars and roads communicate with each other: to detect the edges of the road when there is lots of snow everywhere and help to handle unforeseen circumstances like reindeer on the road. I am waiting to see if this idea progresses as expected. It could be good for Finland.

Finland has history for being a test place when cars and tires needs to be tested in extreme winter conditions. There is freezing temperatures, ice and show. The temperature variations are harsh – at times experiencing differences of up to 40 degrees centigrade within the same day. Finnish tire manufacturer Nokian Tyres has has it’s “White Hell” testing center at Ivalo in Lapland from year 1986. Also Michelin and Hankook has their own testing facilities there. And there is also Test World Oy company that sells testing services. To get the idea of testing and facilities, read There’s Snow Place Like Inside to Test Winter Tires: We Head to Finland’s Test World article.