dawgcasa

I have a 2016 A7 with active driver assist. Between lane assist and the dynamic cruise control, it is almost what I've seen described with the new traffic jam assist, with the exception that active lane assist doesn't like your hands off the wheel for an extended time.

Is this new traffic jam assist feature essentially a Software update that just ties all these pieces present into the 2016 driver assist package together? Could it be available as a Software update to 2016s? Short of requiring a newer processor module, the 2016 models with active assist seem to have all the sensors required ... They're 80% of the way there if lane assist would just stay on with your hands off the wheel.

snagitseven

Why, oh why would you ever want to drive with your hands off the wheel? Self driving cars are not perfected yet and the assist items in the car are just that - an assist; not a replacement for driver control.

dawgcasa

Oh my aren't we judgemental ... I wasn't asking how to turn my A7 into a self driving car. Traffic jam assist is just a system that can react in milliseconds to idiots suddenly changing lanes or emergency stops instead of human tenths of seconds, and is alert all the time as an insurance against being momentarily distracted in that critical fraction of a second. The '16 A7 Driver Assist already is almost there and is loaded with all the sensors required.

I was just asking a factual objective question: Given a '16 system, does this new Audi feature require upgraded hardware, or just a software upgrade from what is already in a 2016 (e.g. like Tesla's software upgrade 3 months ago for their equivalent of Traffic Assist)? The fact that Audi is offering the feature on 2017s is kind of an existence proof that at least some people find it useful.

If I want to be judged I'll write a letter to Dear Abby (whomever is ghost writing that these days).

snagitseven

Tp quote your post: "They're 80% of the way there if lane assist would just stay on with your hands off the wheel"

That's what engendered my question. Also, developing a thicker skin would be desirable if you wish to continue posting on the forums.

superswiss

Yes, traffic jam assist is essentially the combination of adaptive cruise and active lane assist. I don't know if there are additional sensors required. One key differentiation is that traffic jam assist can orient itself by the cars around you, so it works even if lane markings are not clear and it can react to other cars swerving into your lane. I don't know if that requires additional cameras/sensors or if it is all just software.

A7_TDI

Brian Fantana says...

Braces

I'm curious about this question also.