Autonomous Vehicles Blog

Elon Musk, most famously known as the inventor of the Tesla and a pioneer in the future of self-driving cars, recently launched a prototype for an autonomous public transport system called the Hyperloop. The Hyperloop train prototype is fully self-driving, cuts costs for passengers, and would be able to make a 350-mile trip in less than 40 minutes. The system Musk proposed would rely on depressurized air tubes powered by solar energy, through which passengers could travel through in pods going faster than the speed of sound. Although the project has not yet been started, it shows the bigger implications that autonomous technology could have for the future of public transport.

Recently, Google started trials on their own brand of autonomous vehicle, called Google Waymo, which uses a system of neural networks and advanced radar to learn to react to its surroundings in a split second. Waymo starts work when the passenger chooses a destination, then the car calculates a route. As it is driving, many different sensors and radar systems are continuously communicating with each other and using their own data input, as well as data from Google maps, to respond to the car's surroundings. Sensors in both the front and back bumpers of the car also are always watching for possible obstacles. The Waymo vehicle has an operator override system, too, which allows the passenger to still have control. Video retrieved from  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=B8R148hFxPw

According to the  U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ),  there are six distinct levels of automation for vehicles. These are as follows: Level 0: The human operator performs 100% of the driving. Level 1:  The Advanced Driver Assistance System, or ADAS, aids the operator with simple driving tasks. Examples could be a backup camera or a car seat that vibrates to warn the driver of obstacles.  Level 2:  The ADAS has the capability to steer, accelerate, and/or brake. However, the human operator stays behind the wheel and maintains full control of the vehicle. Level 3:  The car is equipped with an Automated Driving System, or ADS, which can perform any driving skill (like parallel parking). However, the human operator still has the responsibility to be the main driver of the vehicle and must maintain control. Level 4: The ADS has the capability to perform any and all driving tasks and can maintain some form of environmental aware...

An autonomous vehicle (a.k.a. driverless car or self-driving car) is an automobile that relies on technology such as sensors, radar, and advanced cameras to transport people independently. This means that they should be able to use technology to safely react to situations while in traffic without needing human intervention. From  https://media2.govtech.com/images/940*627/shutterstock_631061396.jpg