Following in the footsteps of other automakers who are building large test fleets for connected and autonomous technologies, Jaguar Land Rover executives announced they intend to begin testing a fleet of more than 100 connected and self-driving cars on public roads in the U.K. over the next four years.
Real-world testing of the vehicles will begin later this year on 41 miles of highways and urban roads outside Birmingham. The initial tests will evaluate a spate of enhanced driver-assistance technologies that combine and enhance existing features or rely on new vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication systems that allow both motorists and cars to respond to real-time information provided by other cars, traffic signs, and road infrastructure. James Towle, global product strategy director, characterized the features as ?tech to suit the driven and the autonomous car.?
One feature the carmaker is developing?in cooperation with supplier Bosch?is an enhancement of lane-keeping assist that helps drivers identify and navigate through construction zones. With high vehicle speeds, nearby workers, and unusual road terrain, construction zones are considered one of the most high-stakes environments for fledgling semi-autonomous technologies.

The so-called Roadwork Assist uses a forward-facing stereoscopic camera and image-processing software to identify cones and barriers. The system will inform the driver that a construction zone is ahead and apply small amounts...