Driverless cars, let’s take a look at 7 sophisticated self-driving car technologies

Times are getting tougher now. With the help of technology, people don’t have to worry. Likewise, when driving, we no longer have to worry about driving because there is an innovation called self-driving car!

Known by several other names such as robot car, driverless car and autonomous car, this technology is already present in several developed countries around the world. Take a look at its sophistication!

1. Learn about self-driving cars

As the name suggests, a self-driving car is a vehicle that moves automatically without human involvement. This car combines multiple sensors to understand its surroundings, such as radar, GPS, sonar to inertial measurement units. In addition, this car has a sophisticated control system to interpret sensory information to identify the correct navigation path.

2. The first self-driving car was developed in 1977

Speaking of history, the idea of building a car that can move automatically was apparently in mind a century ago! Experiments with automated driving systems (ADS) have been in mind since the 1920s, then various attempts were made in the 1950s. However, the first truly automatic car was developed by Japan’s Tsukuba Mechanical Engineering Laboratory in 1977.

This car can track road markings using two vehicle-mounted cameras and an analog computer for signal processing. This car reached a speed of 30 km/h, a record that was pretty amazing at the time.

3. Is it safe to drive a self-driving car?

We may be wondering is it safe to relinquish complete control of this car? Is there no risk of accidents? Well, it was expected by the experts.

In fact, consulting firm McKinsey & Company claims that widespread use of autonomous vehicles could reduce 90 percent of all auto accidents in the United States. It also prevents up to $190 billion in damage and healthcare costs every year and saves thousands of lives.

In addition, traffic safety experts assume that traffic accidents are usually caused by human negligence such as delayed braking reactions, distraction and speeding. Although considered safe, it turns out that a self-driving car can also have an accident. Like the Uber self-driving car that killed an Arizona woman on foot on March 19, 2018, according to The Guardian.

4. There are several self-driving car rental companies that you can try

Self-driving car technology doesn’t exist all over the world. However, there are several self-driving car rental companies in the United States that you can try. This service is like a taxi, but the difference is that there is no driver.

Some of the companies that offer this service are Uber, Waymo, and Lyft. For Waymo, this service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be ordered through the Waymo One application, the Extreme Tech page explained.

Like an online taxi, we can see the estimated price and the route to take. Meanwhile, Las Vegas has Lyft that we can try. The number of fleets in Las Vegas is 30 cars, the Engadget site explained. We are waiting for his arrival in Indonesia, yes!

5. How does the presence of a self-driving car affect the environment?

Had I thought, is this car environmentally friendly or vice versa? In fact, vehicle automation can improve a car’s fuel economy by optimizing the powertrain. In fact, the widespread use of automated cars will lead to greater fuel efficiency, according to Scientific American.

Additionally, according to a report by the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, self-driving cars can reduce oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 2-4 percent over the next 10 years. In addition, this car can accelerate and brake more efficiently, which can save fuel and reduce energy waste. However, since it wasn’t used massively, the positive effects of a self-driving car weren’t really felt.

6. What obstacles do self-driving cars face?

Not everything went smoothly as expected. In fact, self-driving cars also face various obstacles. Artificial intelligence technology still doesn’t work well in a chaotic and crowded city center. In addition, there are fears that extreme weather conditions such as snow could damage the car’s sensor and navigation systems.

In addition to technical obstacles, there are also social barriers. For example, the government has no special regulations regarding self-driving cars and a labor shortage, although the need is high.

Because the number of available talents does not correspond to the high demand. It is also feared that the rapid increase in the number of automated cars will lead to job losses in the transport industry.

7. What is the future of self-driving cars in Asia?

Neighboring Singapore has gone one step further. The country has a fleet of nuTonomy, the first self-driving car company approved by the Singapore government to test autonomous cars on public roads, according to website Campus Eye, the online newspaper owned by students at the National University of Singapore (NIS). This service was tested in 2016 and went into commercial operation in 2018.

Meanwhile, the Association of Indonesian Automobile Manufacturers (Gaikindo) held an exhibition on innovations in the automobile sector in August 2018. This exhibition provides an opportunity for the development of automated vehicle (AV) technology. Even so, Jakarta’s congested and congested streets are not quite ready to embrace this technology, the CIO side said.

Well, those are 7 facts about self-driving cars. Let’s hope the world feels this sophistication too, right!