It sounds like the advanced technology from a sci-fi book. A car that is smart enough to drive itself and help keep its passengers safe. It is astounding how vehicle technology has advanced, progressively reaching new levels to the point where we almost have self-driving cars.

But what is an autonomous vehicle (AV), also known as driverless cars, self-driving cars, robo-car? An autonomous vehicle is a vehicle capable of sensing its environment and can operate with little or no human involvement.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

These are cars with built-in ultrasonic sensors, radars, sonars, high-powered cameras, GPS, sophisticated hardware, and software that control the vehicle and help it navigate. They have control systems that analyze sensory data to distinguish between different cars on the road. As a result, the vehicle uses this information to plan a path to the desired destination.

There are six levels of automation:

• 0 –No automation.
• 1-Driver Assistance.
• 2-Partial Driving Automation.
• 3-Conditional Automation.
• 4-High Automation.
• 5– Full Automation.

WHAT DOES AN AUTONOMOUS CAR DO?

These vehicles accelerate, brake, steer predicts, discriminates objects, can park, and switch lanes. A driver-less car Follows traffic rules and evades obstacles, can read traffic lights, road signs, and adjusts its speed automatically to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.

While it is true that 100% of Autonomous cars are not here yet, but technology keeps advancing. Semi-autonomous vehicles with Level 3 driving functionality are available in the market right now.

Up to this date, companies like Uber and Waymo are offering a self-driving taxi service that is limited to small areas in the USA. And a lot of companies around the world are competing to obtain the best part of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) into the mass market. 

Over 80 companies like Uber, Tesla, Google, Volvo, Ford, General Motors, Lexus, BMW, Honda, Renault, Audi, Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan, Vauxhall, Mercedes, Benz, Skoda, Kia, W Motors, Hyundai, NIO, Daimler, Haval, Daimler are testing and manufacturing autonomous cars.

HOW MUCH DOES AN AUTONOMOUS CAR COST?

The cost of these systems differs. Tesla’s “full driving” Beta costs approximately $100.000. This vehicle is level 2, meaning the driver needs to remain behind the wheel and aware at all times. The Honda Legend sedan (level 3 vehicle) is available for lease only in Japan, $11 million yens.

IS A SELF-DRIVING CAR SAFE?

Driving a driver-less car will be in-demand more and more. Autonomous vehicles are much safer when compared to standard vehicles, and their technology aims to reduce road fatalities. However, they are still a work in progress. For example, Uber’s self-driving vehicles were involved in 37 crashes. As a consequence, Uber suspended the service after a pedestrian fatality.

Waymo’s driverless cars were involved in 18 car accidents over 18 months.

Also, Tesla’s Model S caused its first death in Florida while in autopilot mode. The number of Tesla cars involved in crashes is on the rise.

Studies from AAA reveal that the current technology of levels 2 and 3 still needs a lot of work and will not be infallible any time soon.

In conclusion, a completely driverless car does not yet exist, but the future of the automobile industry is most promising, and the better technology gets, the more it will change the way we see mobility and the automobile industry.