How do self-driving cars actually work?

The technology they use is fascinating.

3y ago
19.6K

The discussion over autonomous driving technology has been going on for what seems like forever and it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. That's because it pertains to the future of what motoring will look like. Some claim the rise of self-driving tech is not only inevitable but imminent while others say it is a very, very long way off becoming a reality.

There is no easy answer to this question because of the sheer complexity of the subject matter. Creating a self-driving car that can think like a person but eliminate human error is infinitely complicated because we are infinitely complicated beings.

As the diagram below shows, there are three main ways by which an autonomous car views the outside world, all of which are mapped through the multi-domain controller. There's the camera, which very simply analyses live imagery of the road. Alongside that, the radar senses objects like a bat and the LiDAR is used similarly to get a more precise view of the vehicle's surroundings.

Image: Delphi/Reuters

Image: Delphi/Reuters

These issues are explored and investigated to fascinating effect by the Moovel Lab in the video below. In much the same way as social media has completely transformed the nature of our interaction, self-driving tech has the potential to revolutionise the way our roads work and totally change how we see transportation. It's well worth the watch.

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Comments (2)

  • Nice, concise explanation. Well done.

    Self-driving cars will be useful for handicapped persons, as taxies, or for the lazy. I wouldn't mind that bad drivers choose it as well. Other than that, it's one of those technological advances that won't make our lives better in any sense, especially if politicians try to push laws that make it mandatory, if not everywere perhaps in urban areas.

      3 years ago
2