Many of us have already known that automation is one of the big words in today’s technological world. With the arrival of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, Internet of Things and Big Data today’s world is discovering itself in the middle of a rapidly growing technological revolution. And with this technological evolution, we are coming to witness that the software, machines, and robots are being used increasingly by a number of companies throughout the world to automate certain daily tasks, which were previously being performed by humans. This automation is nothing like a huge physical science law, it is just a process through which the machines and the software can be able to perform certain tasks on their own with little or no human assistance.
Automation is everywhere surrounding us. With the advancements in the technologies, the computers with its calculation power and better sensors are controlling our daily life tasks, like we use washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator in our home, also we see the automated doors in buses and shopping malls, these all are controlled by the computers and these all are the automation in our daily life. In a broader aspect, we can think about autonomous driving as an application of automation in our lives.
What is this Autonomous Driving? How does it work?
A self-driving car is an example of this autonomous driving, yes that car which we have imagined as a part of a science fiction movie in our childhood. Among all of the technological advancements, the development in automobiles and vehicles is being one of the exciting advancements in today’s world. Like cars and other automobiles can be able to control themselves in every situation, and also can drive themselves with a little or without any human assistance. So the term autonomous driving stands for these self-driving vehicles which can move without any human interference. There are many levels for these automated cars, starting from level 0 to level 5. While in level 0 the vehicles need a little human assistance, level 5 is fully automated and it can drive without a human driver. Now coming to the point that how can it work by itself!
Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Big Data are the main things behind these self-driving vehicles. These automated vehicles rely on their sensors, GPS, complex algorithms, actuators, and other big processors to drive themselves automatically. Using all of these, the self-driving cars work in the following ways,
- First, it creates a map of its surroundings and maintains this based on the other varieties of its sensors and also different parts of it.
- The Radar Sensor helps it to check out the passing by vehicles, so it can position itself on the road.
- The video camera helps it to look out and understand the traffic light, road sign, pedestrians, and other vehicles on the road.
- The Lidar Sensor helps it to measure the distance from the passing by vehicles. It also helps the car to detect the road edge as well as the lane marks.
- The Ultrasonic Sensors on the wheels of the car helps it to detect the curb while parking itself in a parking area. It also helps the car to detect the location of the other vehicles in the parking area to avoid congestion.
- All of these sensors of the car send this data to the actuators so that it can control the acceleration, braking and steering purposes of the car.
- All the sensors and software of a self-driving car work under the hardcoded rules, obstacle avoidance algorithms, predictive remodeling and the object recognition features of the autonomous driving technology.
Advantages of using Autonomous Driving:
There are so many advantages using autonomous driving in today’s world as follows,
It makes the driving experience errorless:
Using complicated technologies the autonomous driving helps its onboarding computer to calculate up to thousands of calculations at a time. So it can easily detect how far it is from the destination point, the distance from the passing by vehicles, the unusual behavior of the other cars, the road conditions, the current speed, the fastest route to the destination point, the exact location of the car, etc. more accurately. This accurate and efficient understanding cuts off any driving errors from the vehicles and makes the driving error-free to the user.
It reduces accidents and congestion:
The autonomous driving makes the car smarter and intelligent enough, that they can easily detect any pedestrians and other vehicles on their way with its smart sensors and artificial intelligence technology. Using the GPS, the car can detect its location, and using the video camera it can look out the coming obstacles in its way, and the radar and lidar sensors help it to locate the other vehicles. So, it will rarely be involved in any accidents and congestion. Using sensors, it makes communication with other cars, and it reduces the need for traffic signals in the road, so with fewer stops, and fewer signals, it can provide a better driving experience to the user.
Reduces parking cost:
The self-driving cars can find parking area by themselves and be able to park themselves and fit in a place without going about the size of the parking space. Also in a crowded parking area when there is no space for parking, the cars can circle around the location where the user has left it, until s/he intends to leave the place, e.g. school, or movie theatre, etc.
Environment-friendly driving:
The self-driving vehicles lead to fewer traffic signals and fewer traffic jams, which will reduce the unnecessary use of car fuels and the exertion of Carbon diOxide through smoke in the air. The research shows that almost 80% of the Carbon level will be reduced by autonomous vehicles by the year 2045.
Location sharing makes it easy:
The location sharing of self-driving cars makes it easier to track any vehicles on the road, as well as it will help in the Judi system of the state, as a criminal can not just escape in his car.
It cut-offs the transportation cost:
Along with all the above points the self-driven cars cut off the extra transportation cost. Also, the user does not have to bear any driver cost as the cars will be self-driven automatically.
Drawbacks of using autonomous vehicles:
Every single thing in this universe having advantages should have some drawbacks necessarily. I do not know why! So here are some drawbacks of using autonomous driving as follows,
First, The sensors of these self-driving cars are so expensive, and hence it will be impossible for all of us to afford it.
Second, These cars work totally on technological algorithms and codes. If any of the codes or algorithms are put differently or in a wrong way, then it can make the car make wrong decisions and hence car accidents will happen.
Third, The main problem is the weather. In the heavy fog or in the heavy rain when the GPS can not be worked properly, the car will not be able to find its location as well as it can not function properly.
Fourth, As the location is vividly used for these vehicles, it is definitely being shared with some third parties either person or software, which makes the privacy of the user less secure, and any business-related trip will be more prone to be hacked.
The above passages show you everything about autonomous driving, with its advantages and disadvantages. All in all, these self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles will make a great and incredible wave in the automobile industry. With its increased productivity and risk lowering factors for driving gives it good potential to improve our lives. With all of its technologies and factors, this autonomous driving is going to be one of the great and mind-blowing emerging technologies of the world.
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