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A simple RF transmitter in new versions of the existing reflector discs would do it. It wouldn't need to do anything but "ping", the battery could last for yea
by tmzt 9y ago
A simple RF transmitter in new versions of the existing reflector discs would do it.
It wouldn't need to do anything but "ping", the battery could last for years. You could even have a mechanism to disable it when the lines are repainted, though normally roads that use the existing version of these reflectors would have them removed when moving lines.
The transmitter would have to be powerful enough to go through a small amount of snow in some states.
The question is can we get the car companies to agree on a standard for this? Would it make sense to put it in the frequency range allocated for vehicle radar systems?
What we get instead is an attempt to define the whole system de jure, including full V2V protocols and specifications.
- Reason077 9y agoBut what is the actual advantage of this RF system? Why is this any better than just using a camera and image processing? OK, RF would mean the lane geometry can be "seen" through all weather conditions (fog, snow). But so does precise-enough mapping/fleet learning. Neither would help in detecting traffic and transitory obstacles that might be hidden by that fog - you still need other sensors for that! A "safe" autonomous vehicle should perhaps simply slow down in adverse weather conditions just as a human driver would. Even without additional sensors, their ability to see through snow and fog is certainly no worse than a humans.
- dzhiurgis 9y agoWe need transmitters in licence plates and on street signs too.
- Reason077 9y agoWhy? So they can be "seen" through rain, fog and snow? Reading road signs optically is a solved problem. Mobileye and similar systems have been doing this for a decade or more.
- dzhiurgis 9y agoWell you answered your question. Further, it would help learning in limited visibility, although they can already do it by remembering locations of signs (people do that, do autonomous cars store city/state/worldwide road data?)