CityLink Sound Tube disrupts driverless cars during trial on Melbourne roads

A COLOURFUL Melbourne art installation has left researchers scratching their heads after it was found to be disrupting driverless cars on the city’s roads in a trial.

CITYLINK’S Sound Tube has left researchers into driverless cars baffled, with unmanned vehicles struggling to navigate through the colourful art ­installation.

The discovery was made by Transurban on the back of new research into whether Victorian roads are equipped to deal with the likely rise of unmanned technology.

The tolling operator has ­finished the first phase of a two-year trial that saw partially automated cars travel along sections of the Monash, CityLink and Tullamarine corridors.

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The CityLink Sound Tube is creating issues for driverless vehicle testing.

During the trial, which partnered with the state government and the RACV, researchers found Victorian roads would need to be improved and altered to allow for the driverless technology.

At times unmanned cars did not slow down for other vehicles at the end of a ramp and did not detect cars merging from entry ramps.

But it was trips through the CityLink Sound Tube, built to reduce noise pollution for ­locals, that left researchers scratching their heads as to why the automated technology struggled while travelling along the stretch of road.

The study found the art ­installation disrupted the car’s “autonomous driving mode” and switched off the technology that kept them in the ­correct lane.

Some cars also struggled to find the correct speed limit ­inside the Sound Tube and in one instance detected a “ghost” car where there was no lane.

The study found the art ­installation disrupted the car’s “autonomous driving mode” and switched off the technology that kept them in the ­correct lane.

Transurban group strategy chief Wes Ballantine said the findings showed urban design could have an impact on automated vehicles. “This is a good example of an outcome of this trial that will impact vehicle manufactures’ future planning as this technology continues to evolve,” he said.

“There are a lot jurisdictions talking about it but this is one of the earliest trials to get to some clear takeaways.

“It seems mundane but things like clear line markings may need modifications.

“We’re going to live in this hybrid environment with driver-assisted vehicles and that’s one of the potential risks that operators and the government will have to manage. Many people focus on the risks but there are also safety upsides.”

Mr Ballantine said Transurban had used the study’s findings to inform the design of the West Gate Tunnel.

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