With most cars, the task of managing multiple driver assistance systems falls to separate control units, unlike with the all-new Audi A8 which uses a centralized architecture.
In a way, it’s as if multiple departments were controlled by a single person who called all the shots, which is basically the idea behind this clever little commercial, depicting Audi’s Central Driver Assistance Controller Unit (zFAS) in a very creative manner.
It’s as if we’re watching a movie where the good guys are working to complete their mission, which in this case is making sure the driver of the Audi A8 is both safe as well as comfortable behind the wheel.
We also get to see the A8’s Traffic Jam Pilot in action, which allows drivers to “take their hands off the steering wheel permanently and, depending on the national laws, focus on a different activity that is supported by the car, such as watching the on-board TV.”
This however remains a very touchy subject, with both publications as well as institutions (Consumer Reports and the IIHS) claiming that a system that allows drivers to fully disengage from the road is something to be concerned about as long as the vehicle isn’t fully autonomous.