Self-driving car

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Vehicle capable of sensing its environment and moving with little or no human input

A self-driving car, also known as an autonomous car, driver-less car, or robotic car, is a vehicle capable of sensing its environment and moving safely with little or no human input. Self-driving cars combine a variety of sensors to perceive their surroundings, such as radar, lidar, sonar, GPS, odometry, and inertial measurement units. Advanced control systems interpret sensory information to identify appropriate navigation paths, as well as obstacles and relevant signage.

History

The concept of self-driving cars has been a part of science fiction for decades, but significant advancements began in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Early experiments with autonomous vehicles were conducted by universities and research institutions, with notable projects such as the DARPA Grand Challenge accelerating development.

Technology

Self-driving cars rely on a combination of hardware and software to operate. Key components include:

• Sensors: These include cameras, radar, lidar, and ultrasonic sensors that provide data about the vehicle's surroundings.
• Actuators: These control the vehicle's movement, including steering, acceleration, and braking.
• Algorithms: These process sensor data to make decisions about navigation and obstacle avoidance.
• High-definition maps: These provide detailed information about the environment, including road layouts and traffic signs.

Levels of Autonomy

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines six levels of driving automation ranging from Level 0 (no automation) to Level 5 (full automation):

• Level 0: No automation.
• Level 1: Driver assistance (e.g., adaptive cruise control).
• Level 2: Partial automation (e.g., Tesla Autopilot).
• Level 3: Conditional automation (e.g., Audi Traffic Jam Pilot).
• Level 4: High automation (e.g., Waymo vehicles in certain conditions).
• Level 5: Full automation (no human intervention required).

Ethical and Legal Issues

The deployment of self-driving cars raises several ethical and legal issues. These include:

• Liability: Determining who is responsible in the event of an accident.
• Privacy: Concerns about data collection and surveillance.
• Job displacement: The impact on jobs in the transportation sector.
• Ethical dilemmas: Decision-making in unavoidable accident scenarios.

Current Developments

Several companies and research institutions are actively developing self-driving car technology. Notable players include Waymo, Tesla, Uber, and Cruise Automation. Many of these companies are conducting trials and pilot programs in various cities around the world.

Related Pages

• Autonomous car
• Automotive safety
• Artificial intelligence
• Machine learning
• Robotics
• Transportation

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