Though self-driving cars are still in the special testing phase, the future has the potential to see them on the roads in the next several years. While this may be a fascinating idea, one big question remains: how does a self-driving car “see”? Essentially, there are three key elements that give a self-driving car its sight: radar, lidar, and high-resolution cameras. Radar (radio detection and ranging) can detect the size and speed of objects hundreds of meters away and works by sending out radio waves that bounce off distant surfaces. However, radar produces poor image quality and is unable to make out the details of an object. Cue in lidar (light detection and ranging). Lidar uses a narrow infrared laser that sends out short pulses that bounce off objects to measure their shape, size, and distance, resulting in the ability to detect objects with finer detail and produce higher quality images. Lidar can even make out the holes of a button on a person’s shirt as they cross the street! However, lidar is the most expensive sensor option and because sensors are constantly moving, there is more room for error. Lidar is also limited by poor weather conditions. That’s where the final key element, high-resolution cameras, comes into play. High-resolution cameras are placed in a variety of places around the self-driving car so that the car can have an accurate and clear view of its surroundings. But, just like lidar, poor weather can limit the vision of the cameras. These high-resolution cameras also require the car’s computer system to take measurements of an image in order to judge its distance. So even though the technology is possible and available, it needs to be further developed and perfected. Lastly, ethical factors, such as whether self-driving cars are truly safe, also need to be considered before they are made available to the masses. Despite these obstacles, one thing is certain: there is tons of potential in the automotive industry and we should expect drastic changes in the next several years.
