
A few decades ago, self-driving cars were nothing more than a dream. However, there has been an increased interest in self-driving vehicles because of their convenience. Beyond convenience, more modern self-driving cars also come with a range of features that are changing the game in the automobile industry and setting the pace for a much grander future. Let’s check out some of these features in this article.
The Early Years of Autonomous Driving
Earlier variations of autonomous driving had a few challenges that made users wary. Tesla and other self-driving car manufacturers faced a few lawsuits. Some of these companies had to fight wrongful death lawyers Las Vegas with their own legal team each time a person died in a self-driving car accident. However, technological advancement has fixed most of the challenges with these earlier models, as you’ll see below.
Advanced Sensor Systems
One of the most prominent features of autonomous vehicles is their reliance on advanced sensor systems during navigation.
These sensors make them even more efficient than human drivers because they offer a 360 perspective of the vehicle’s surroundings. The vehicles are fitted with cameras, ultrasonic sensors, radars, and lidar. The data from these sensors are processed with algorithms and send feedback that makes it easy for the car to avoid objects and people. Besides detecting hazards, sensor systems detect dramatic weather changes that may affect visibility.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Recent self-driving cars come with advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning components that allow them to process big data in real-time. An AI- and ML-powered car can make independent decisions on the road and improve its performance over time. They don’t rely on pre-programmed information alone. So they can adapt to unpredictable changes on the road. Some companies specialize in designing these AI and MI suits for self-driving cars.
High-Definition Mapping
Self-driving cars navigate the roads without any human intervention. Instead, they use high-definition mapping to get details of the surroundings. Apart from the route, every single detail, including traffic signals, lane markings, and road signs, is added to the map. High-tech companies create these maps for vehicle manufacturers within and outside the self-driving space.
Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Communication
V2X is a revolutionary technology that makes it easy for autonomous vehicles to communicate with other cars on the road.
It allows them to communicate with pedestrians and other automobile infrastructure, improving road safety and vehicle performance. V2X also helps optimize traffic flow on major highways, which, in turn, reduces travel time.
Over-the-Air (OTA) Software Updates
One of the most unique features of autonomous self-driving vehicles is that they require regular software updates. With over-the-air technology, these updates can be gotten remotely. These can be anything from simple bug fixes and security updates to more advanced changes to the car’s operating system. For example, Tesla self-driving vehicles can receive updates anytime and anywhere.
Conclusion
Self-driving vehicles are the future of automobile technology. While many people are still skeptical about the technology, there has been significant advancement over the years. There is also the issue of mainstream adoption. Self-driving cars aren’t affordable, which makes sense since they are so expensive to make. Unfortunately, it also contributes to limited access.