From a classic Renault Twizy towards a low cost autonomous car prototype: a proof of concept

Abstract This paper shows how a conventional electric car is modified into an autonomous vehicle. The starting point to the presented developments is the Renault Twizy® specially designed for urban mobility. The goal is to reuse the mechanical, electrical and electronic elements to customise this car in an autonomous electric vehicle. For that purpose, communication, actuators and sensors systems are added. The challenge here is double, on the one hand the integration challenge due to the small place offered by the Renault Twizy®, and on the other hand the proposed systems must associate low cost and good performances. The proof of concept of our autonomous prototype is given through some experimental validations.