How Self Driving Cars Work?

Sensors generate a 3-dimensional map to aid navigation. (Image: Steve Jurvetson/CC by Flickr)

Until a few years ago, driverless cars seemed like science fiction that occurred only in movies or science fantasy novels. But now we hear that different companies like Tesla, BMW, Google and Audi are ready with systems which will bring these cars to roads near us.

How do driverless cars work?

Various technologies have been developed by major automakers, researchers, and technology companies. While design details differ, most self-driving cars have several systems like LIDAR sensors (Light Detection And Ranging) devices, cameras, radar, and GPS (Global Positioning System – a software that uses satellites to tell us exactly where we are on the planet) that work together to create maps of roads while the company drivers run the cars on them for the first time.

Lidar sensors help to detect the edges of roads and identify lane markings by bouncing pulses of light off the car’s surroundings. They also alert the cars to nearby objects, including other cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Data collected by all the instruments is passed on to the software which then processes those inputs, plots a path, and sends instructions to the vehicle’s “actuators,” which control acceleration, braking, and steering.

Hard-coded rules, obstacle avoidance algorithms, predictive modeling (process that uses data to forecast outcomes), and “smart” object discrimination (i.e., knowing the difference between a bicycle and a motorcycle) help the software follow traffic rules and navigate obstacles.Actuators: Actuators convert the electrical signals from the control unit into an action in any electronic control system.

Sensors generate a 3-dimensional map to aid navigation. (Image: Steve Jurvetson/CC by Flickr)