Aidoptation Level 3 Autonomous Driving Test 2026: Belgium Highway Permit Explained

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Startup Aidoptation has started preparing for public road trials of an automated driving system capable of preventing high-speed collisions without immediate human intervention. Belgian authorities have approved tests on a 100-kilometer stretch of the E313 and E314 highways in Limburg province.

The test vehicle is built on an electric Maserati GranTurismo Folgore. It's being fitted with lidars, radars, cameras, and additional actuators. The permit was granted for a Level 4 system, though in the first phase developers plan to focus on the more limited Level 3 technology.

The key feature will be the ability to independently initiate an emergency maneuver at speeds above 120 km/h. With an average driver reaction time of 1.5 seconds, a car at that speed covers more than 50 meters, so waiting for human intervention could take too long. The system is designed to recognize the threat and brake or change trajectory on its own.

The platform is called EdgeDrive. Its distinguishing feature is that decisions aren't made by a neural network but by deterministic models following predefined rules — according to the developers, this makes every action the system takes traceable and auditable, which should simplify certification with regulators and dealings with insurers.

Level 3 doesn't mean full driverless operation. Under certain conditions the driver may look away from the road, but must be ready to take control once the car requests it. Aidoptation hasn't yet disclosed timelines for the technology reaching production cars, its cost, or a list of potential partners.