We’ve all heard about the LIDAR and sensor and road-following technology in development so cars can learn to drive themselves. As it turns out, that might include new lane-marking tape, and a Canadian company is already on top of it.
3M Canada teamed up with the company that manages Highway 407 in Ontario to start testing new lane tape that’s easier for lane-departure systems–and someday, autonomous vehicles–to read and follow. One of the features of the new tape is a black line on either side of its white body, which will be easier for systems to see on all kinds of pavement. The partners also say the tape performed well through Canada’s winter. They say it seems like a great addition to the roads, especially for the period when human drivers and driverless cars will both need to read the roads.