For years, people have struggled with the idea of self driving vehicles. Sitting in a car without a driver is an unnatural, and for many, frightening experience. Volvo has been working to make the dream of a self driving car into a reality. They have developed the XC90, a self driving vehicle capable of driving on everyday roadways.To begin, Volvo explains how the car uses sensors to "see" the world around it. The article also goes on to explain the "one sensor alone will never be enough." In order that the XC90 is safe enough to be driving on a road with pedestrians, traffic, and other unpredictable variables, the car must use many different types of sensors to detect the same portions of the road. The yellow lines dividing a road is a fine example of this.
Although the XC90 is very far into production, one large issue remains with the self steering mechanism. It is difficult for a car to steer itself when road conditions are icy and snowy. Volvo has found a solution to this problem. The radar used to manage the steering was placed inside of the car, behind the windshield wipers. This enables the wipers to clear the windshield of snow and ice in order that the car is able to "see" what is going on.Volvo claims that its' XC90 will be available for lease in Sweden next year. This is the first time a self driving car is being released to the public.
Information: http://www.autonews.com/article/20160210/OEM06/160219995/self-driving-cars-succumb-to-snow-blindness-as-driving-lanes
picture 1: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/547246d3e4b01e4b89ad7374/t/5684304bd8af10be6f7cfc8e/1451503692307/"Winter" picture: http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/files/2012/02/Winter-Snow.jpg
This is was a pretty cool post! A self driving car is almost too awesome to be true. Amazing how much engineers are capable of great job on the post!
ReplyDeleteI have continuously heard about self driving cars but this post puts more perspective in to what the future might hold for the automotive industry.
ReplyDeleteAbbie
Very interesting article. I can honestly say this changed my life
ReplyDeleteIt is very exciting to hear about the technology of self-driving. After reading the article, people can know how does Volvo do to solve the issues of self-driving car in the winter. Can't wait for the self-drivng car in the future.
ReplyDelete