Introduction to Autonomous Driving

Self-driving vehicles can be cars or trucks where human drivers are never required to take control to safely operate the vehicles. Also known as autonomous or “driverless” cars, they have automated combine sensors and software to control, navigate, and drive the vehicle safely. An autonomous car is also referred to as a driverless or self-driving vehicle. It was designed with the idea to travel in the nonappearance of a human operator. It is same as having a personal driver except that this vehicle does not involve human contact. This amazing car is no doubt an excellent innovation that gives a person a sudden advantage. While on the other hand, this vehicle is still accompanied by some disadvantages that will be discussed in this article.

Advantages of Autonomous Driving

Decreased the number of accidents

Autonomous cars avoid human faults from occurring as the system controls the car. It leaves no chance for the interruption, not just like humans being who are prone to distraction. It also utilizes complicated algorithms that determine the accurate stopping distance from one car to another. Thereby, reducing the probability of accidents to the great extent.

Lessens traffic jams

Driverless cars in a group contribute to platooning. This enables the car to stop or accelerates instantaneously. Platoon system allows automatic highway system which may significantly lessen congestion and improve traffic by growing up the lane capacity. Autonomous vehicles communicate well with one another. They assist in identifying traffic issues on early stage. It also notices road maintenance and takes diversions instantly. It also detects hand signals from the motorists and reacts to those signals accordingly.

Stress-free parking

Autonomous cars drop the person off at his journey’s end and directly heads to a detected vacant parking spot. This eradicates the possibility of wasting time and fuel looking for a vacant one.

Time-saving vehicle

As the system controls the vehicle, the driver has a spare time to continue to work or spend time with their loved ones without fearing about road safety.

Disadvantages of Autonomous Driving

Too much expensive

High-technology vehicles and equipment are too much expensive. They invest a large sum of money for research and development as well as in choosing the finest and most functional materials required such as the software, modified motor parts, and sensors. Therefore, the cost of having Autonomous vehicles is higher in the beginning. However, the cist may decline after 10 years giving way for the middle-class earners to have one.

Safety and security concerns

Though it has been successfully programmed, there will still be the possible unexpected glitch that may occur. Technologies are consistently updating and almost all of this equipment may have a faulty code when the update is improperly and unsuccessfully done.

Autonomous Driving

While still when people at large are not at the stage where they can expect to routinely travel in autonomous vehicles in 2020, they will undoubtedly continue to produce a significant amount of excitement.

It is expected that with time, autonomous vehicles manufacture companies will further mature their driving technology. It is also believed that soon people at large will increasingly hear about the measures that need to be taken by regulators, legislators, and authorities. Transformation to laws, existing infrastructure, and social attitudes are all likely to be needed before autonomous driving takes a practical reality for most of the people. In the upcoming years, it is expected to see the debate around autonomous driving spread outside of the tech world, as masses come round to the notion that the question is not “if,” but “when,” it will become a reality.

The automotive industry is presently looking at the technology innovation required to move from today’s prototype autonomous cars to deployable safe, self-driving results. This technology must be able to control the key hurdles that are presently refraining us from reaching and producing safe Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous cars. The article aims to cover these key issues and explore the possible solutions available to automakers that fit within their required timeframe.

Self-Driving Cars Are Coming

Autonomous cars are on their way. It is essential to understand the features and test knowledge on the future of driverless transportation. In current times, no legally operating or fully-autonomous vehicles are found in the United States. However, partially-autonomous vehicles—cars and trucks with varying amounts of self-automation, from conventional cars with brake and lane assistance to highly-independent, self-driving prototypes are still to be seen on the streets.

Though still in its beginning, self-driving technology is becoming progressively common and could drastically change the system of transportation. It is also very likely to happen that revival of technology in the current era will definitely transform the course of economy and society’s living standard together with their ideas to purchase expensive products. Based on automaker and technology company estimations, level 4 self-driving cars could be for sale in the upcoming years.

How they work?

Google, Tesla, Nissan, Uber, and other major automakers, technology companies and researchers have developed multiple self-driving technologies in recent years. While design particulars do vary from cars to cars but still, most self-driving systems create and maintain an inner map of their surroundings, based on a wide range of sensors, such as radar. There are sixty-four laser beams used by Uber’s self-driving prototypes, along with other sensors, to produce their internal map. Similarly, Google’s prototypes have also made effective use of lasers, radar, high-powered cameras, and sonar at various levels.

The main function of autonomous vehicles lies in its software therefore manufacturers put serious efforts to bring a combination of unique and safe technology. Software houses are then required to processes those inputs, plots a path, and directs instructions to the vehicle’s “actuators,” that regulates acceleration, braking, and steering. Hard-coded rules, problem avoidance algorithms, projecting modelling, and “smart” object discrimination that can accurately difference between a motorcycle and a bicycle, help the software follow traffic rules and navigate obstacles. Partly-autonomous cars may need a human driver intervention if the system faces any challenge; whereas fully-autonomous cars may not even offer a steering wheel.