Self-driving cars are a huge step towards bringing the long-promised future of autonomous technology known only in science fiction, into reality.
The groundbreaking advancements in Transportation Software Development promise to reinvent our experience and understanding of commuting completely.
Using artificial intelligence algorithms to weave together and utilize an array of cameras and sensors, vehicles can be fully automated to function without any need for human intervention except during emergencies. This not only contributes to improving road safety but also lets you do some cool things
This blog examines the evolution, benefits, and challenges in the fully autonomous vehicles industry and contains some good-to-know information about the technology.
Bringing Autonomous Driving from Fiction to Scale
Imagine sleeping in the backseat while your car drives you. Imagine sending your car to pick up your kids, collect your groceries, to come out of the parking lot to pick you up. Yes, we may get to this future someday soon, but first, here is a look at where we are today.
Evolution of Autonomous Cars
The world learned of the amazing possibility of a driverless car with Carnegie Mellon University’s Navlab 1 in 1986, which was a Chevrolet van stuffed with a lot of techs, allowing it to teach a top speed of 32 Km/h even with the limited software of the time.
The teams subsequently developed many other such projects, the most impressive of which was the Navlab 5 which in 1995 completely autonomously drove all but 50 of the 2850 miles trip with an average speed of over 96 Km/h.
With major advancements in AI and ML, companies like Mobileye, Waymo, Baidu, Cruise, and Navya have taken huge strides toward achieving their goal of creating SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Level 5 autonomous cars. It is estimated that by 2030, there will; be 127,000 units of highly autonomous vehicles on the road.
Software Development Company StanfordSE was at the core of creating the software and AI algorithms that allowed Waymo to launch the world’s first fully autonomous taxi service in 2020.
The company now offers this service in Phoenix, Arizona, and parts of California with geofencing – a way to mark locations to aid location awareness and adjust driving style, speeds, etc. accordingly.
6 Levels of Vehicle Autonomy
Level 0: No Driving Automation
Most manually controlled vehicles on the road today are Level 0. Though the car may have systems in it that help the driver, humans must perform the driving task themselves.
Examples of technologies available in this category are AEB, ABS, traction control, etc. which are active, but only support in certain situations.
Level 1: Driver Assistance
This is the lowest level of automation which features a single automated system that provides continuous driver assistance.
It still needs a human driver to be involved in the other aspects of driving. Examples are lane-keeping assistance that steers you back if you begin to drift out and adaptive cruise control, which keeps you at a safe distance behind the vehicle in front.
Level 2: Partial Driving Automation
From this level begins the use of advanced driver assistance systems or ADAS which automates steering, acceleration, and breaking. The automation can self-drive, but a human could need to take control of the car at any time.
ADAS technologies at this level are highway assist, obstacle avoidance, and autonomous parking. It is forecasted that 63% of all vehicles sold globally in 2025 will have at least this level of automation.
Level 3: Conditional Driving Automation
Level 3 vehicles have “environmental detection” capabilities allowing them to make decisions. Decisions such as overtaking a slow-moving vehicle may seem negligible from a human perspective but is a significant technological leap.
The technology still requires a human override and for the driver to stay alert and take control if the system cannot execute the task. The Traffic Jam Pilot on the Audi A8 and Honda SENSING Elite are examples of this.
Level 4: High Driving Automation
These vehicles can intervene in urgent situations or during a system failure. These vehicles can fully operate in self-driving mode and most circumstances do not require human interaction, but you can manually override it if needed. The technology still needs legislation and geofencing infrastructure to evolve to become practical and is now only used in limited capacities and areas.
Level 5: Full Driving Automation
The need for humans to be present is eliminated in level 5 vehicles with the driving task fully managed by the AI.
These cars are only experimental now, but it is anticipated that they will not even need a steering wheel or control pedals. They will not need geofencing and will manoeuvre just as human drivers would. This level is not yet available to the public.
Real-World Impacts of Self-Driving Cars
Impact on Traffic
Autonomous cars can optimize traffic flow and congestion. They can enhance the efficiency of transportation and significantly improve the time and effort taken to commute.
Change in Infrastructure
The urban infrastructure must be altered to accommodate autonomous vehicles. The level of automation currently available still demands geotagging, smart traffic lights, clear designated lanes, and other changes to integrate them.
Impact on Public Transportation
Autonomous technology can augment the existing public transportation systems to provide a massively interconnected mobility solution, creating a public transportation network that is more efficient and accessible.
Impact on Jobs
While jobs in the traditional transportation sectors could face challenges, new opportunities are emerging in the tech industry. The technology will bring about a societal shift and the workforce must be prepared for this.
Impact on the Automotive Industry
Even the entry of level 2 autonomous cars has created a paradigm shift for automakers, showing them how the future demands the development of autonomous capabilities. This has resulted in new companies entering the markets using their cutting-edge technologies and forcing established companies to adapt to the technological changes.
Economic Impact
It is yet to be seen if or to what extent companies will use planned obsolescence to regulate the demand for autonomous cars, but reduced accidents and optimized driving patterns could contribute to lower maintenance and fuel costs respectively. This could translate to substantial cost savings for buyers. However, the resulting reduced consumption of other products and services like newer cars, fuel, mechanics, valets, etc could also affect the economy.
Safety Improvements
With advanced sensors that detect obstacles and AI that responds in milliseconds, autonomous cars offer great promise in mitigating road accidents. Driving under the influence, falling asleep at the wheel, and simple carelessness can all become problems of the past, drastically reducing accidents.
Environmental Impact
Driving patterns that maximize the consumption of fuel/energy and the mostly electric or hybrid disposition of autonomous vehicles promise an improvement in environmental sustainability, making them a greener mobility solution.
Challenges in Incorporation
Technical Challenges
Despite significant progress, transportation software development cannot yet deliver a flawless driverless product. Improving the AI-driven decision-making processes that allow vehicles to adapt to dynamic environments, interpret complex scenarios, and make split-second decisions is a critical area to make self-driving cars a part of our daily lives.
Legal And Ethical Concerns
Ethical and legal issues resulting from concerns about fairness and transparency, lack of government regulations to ensure public safety, and lack of clear legal frameworks to address potential accidents and assigning liability, remain unresolved. These are significant hurdles keeping autonomous vehicles from mainstream acceptance.
Public Acceptance
It can feel strange to get into a car and just trust the empty seat to keep you from crashing. Being a new and still developing technology, it has not yet been accepted into the zeitgeist. People are sceptical about the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles, hesitant to relinquish control to a machine, and are concerned about errors and getting into accidents.
Technologies Used in Autonomous Vehicles
- Cameras: These are the eyes of the car that capture and relay visual data to identify objects like other vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic signs.
- LiDAR: It uses laser pulses to provide precise distance and detailed 3D maps. It typically has a shorter range than radar but provides much more precise measurements.
- RADAR: It uses radio waves and electromagnetic sensors to detect, locate, and recognize objects at considerable distances.
- Ultrasonic Sensors: These sensors detect nearby objects at low speeds and are useful in parking and maneuvering in tight spaces.
- GPS (Global Positioning System): This system uses a network of satellites to pinpoint the car’s location.
- IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit): This device enhances the functionality of the GPS by providing movement and orientation data.
- GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System): This broader system uses at least 4 GNSS satellites at a time to get enhanced accuracy in positioning, navigation, and timing.
- AI Algorithms and Machine Learning: This is the core of the technology. It analyzes data from sensors, traffic rules, object detection, and road conditions, to make driving decisions like lane changes, speed adjustments, and interactions with other vehicles.
Conclusion
In summary, the rise of autonomous cars has burst open a brand-new path for transportation software development leading to safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly travel. One on which a software development company would be your mechanic and where you could ask your car to drive to them by itself.
Despite the obstacles, the benefits of self-driving cars cannot be denied. The future everybody ultimately wants is one with safe autonomous vehicles, available at low cost. The challenge now is only to overcome the problems discussed here and finally get there.
With technological advancements and changes in regulations and laws to support the technology, autonomous vehicles are sure to earn the trust and acceptance of the communities they aim to serve soon.
