Autonomous cars have eyes in all places — at all times.
Their 360-vision can exceed the relatively limited view of a driver checking his or her mirrors.
This is because self-driving cars are fitted with numerous cameras, radars and sensors.
At the heart of the system is the car’s stereo camera — found at the front.
Its two lenses — placed about 20cm apart — are linked up to an onboard computer.
With a driver’s line of vision, the camera scans the road ahead for obstacles and calculates distances.
The computer can recognize moving objects like a bike pulling out or a child running into the road.
Cameras dotted around the vehicle scan the rest of the road.
Others read traffic light signals or road signs.
A variety of radars are used to sense close or distant objects.
This gives the car a range of up to 200 metres, even at night.
Smaller radars on the sides check around the vehicle, for cyclists riding alongside for example.
The car is also fitted with sensors like:
– Rain detectors , which control speed and breaks
– And wind metres, which keep the car on the road in case of heavy gusts and gales.
https://youtu.be/oFCnJWOky3g
Self-driving cars have eyes in all places — at all times.Their 360-vision can exceed the relatively limited view of a driver checking his or her mirrors.
Marian Henbest David Lory / AFP Videographics / AFP
