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-plan-act” design. AVs must be able
to use a combination of sensory technology in order to
gather enough information, however, whilst AVs can gather this information relatively easily, it is the planning and acting stage which needs to be precise in order for AVs to be ultra-reliable. With the integration of Global Position System (GPS), it is quite simple for an AV to drive along a road without any obstacles or changes, however the key aspect is being able to react to a situation in real time such as a car pulling out of a side road or even something, like a person, going in the path of the car. Therefore, because there endless variables that can occur while driving, the vision of a completely AV is still just that - a vision. The current state of AVs still requires a driver to be inside on public roads for contingency. Many of the big names in the car manufacturing industry are keen to be leaders in this new technology. As mentioned earlier, fully-driverless cars are still out of reach, however, each manufacturer is developing their own technology to reduce the need for a driver at the wheel. According to research, the current leader in AVs in 2017 is Ford. The automaker aims to roll out a fleet of driverless vehicles in a ride-hailing or –sharing service in 2021. The company states on their website they have invested into researching advanced algorithms, 3D mapping, radar technology and advanced camera sensors. All of which help to accelerate their AVs. In late 2017, Jaguar Land Rover began testing driverless cars on British roads that are simultaneously being used by the general public. Britain’s biggest manufacturer is determined the country will play a leading role in the race to develop autonomous vehicles. With these huge leaps in technology, it seems a future of driverless cars might not be so far away, the question will be can we adapt quickly enough and ensure as pedestrians and drivers that we are safe.
JANUARY 2018 | MANE AUTOMOTIVE, F1 & MOTORSPORT | 9