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The one thing that sticks with me in all of these automated driving demonstrations is the lack of operation in adverse environmental conditions such Rain, Fog,

The one thing that sticks with me in all of these automated driving demonstrations is the lack of operation in adverse environmental conditions such Rain, Fog, Snow/Ice. I would expect that any one of those conditions would post extraordinary challenges to an automated driving system.

eliben 12y ago
Interesting, I have exactly the opposite view. The limited visibility that such conditions enforce, making them hard for humans to handle, have much lower effect on a system equipped with "vision" on multiple wave-lengths, for some of which the rain and fog are as transparent as air. As for the other effects (say, less tire friction) I don't see why a computer would do worse. I'm pretty sure the breaking distances are not hard-coded, but rather a very sophisticated feedback loop.
- OnACoffeeBreak 12y ago
  From what I understand, Google's self driving car is heavily based around the lidar sensor. The lidar sensor is used to image immediate surroundings in 3D in real time. Rain, snow and fog interfere with the laser pulses sent out by the lidar sensor, which basically renders the self driving system blind.
  - Qworg 12y ago
    You are correct. The system degrades in functionality in dust, heavy fog, heavy rain, and snow. It isn't blind, per se, as radar still functions. Snow is the worst though - both visually obscuring and radar absorptive.
- Thrymr 12y ago
  We're very far from this being the case now, though. Humans are very good at filtering multiple inputs and coming up with a reasonable understanding of their surroundings when sensory input is limited or different form normal. Computers are still not. Yes, maybe different sensors on the car will help, but real situational awareness and adaptability is what will be hardest to program. Not something that will never happen, I'm sure, but also not as soon as some hope.
deelowe 12y ago
I believe the autonomous cars simply can't operate in adverse conditions and have mechanisms in place to detect when the sensors are failing. This is why they still require an operator in the driver's seat. It's also why the car they showed without the steering wheel is a bit ridiculous.
pj_mukh 12y ago
Yes, this one factor will be the key to the success of this kind of technology. As much as I love Google spearheading this movement, other car companies have made good headway into catching up in a way that is more robust to rain/fog etc and also doesn't need pre-mapped routes. Mercedes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHqB47F12vI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHqB47F12vI Note the lack of GIANT lidars :). Though I'm not entirely sure how much of it is really autonomous.
- a_c_s 12y ago
  I agree! This is why I'm more excited about Volvo's technology than Google's: I'm sure people in Sweden have snow at the top of mind when developing this technology, rather than sunny Californian roads.

eliben 12y ago

Interesting, I have exactly the opposite view. The limited visibility that such conditions enforce, making them hard for humans to handle, have much lower effect on a system equipped with "vision" on multiple wave-lengths, for some of which the rain and fog are as transparent as air. As for the other effects (say, less tire friction) I don't see why a computer would do worse. I'm pretty sure the breaking distances are not hard-coded, but rather a very sophisticated feedback loop.

OnACoffeeBreak 12y ago
From what I understand, Google's self driving car is heavily based around the lidar sensor. The lidar sensor is used to image immediate surroundings in 3D in real time. Rain, snow and fog interfere with the laser pulses sent out by the lidar sensor, which basically renders the self driving system blind.
- Qworg 12y ago
  You are correct. The system degrades in functionality in dust, heavy fog, heavy rain, and snow. It isn't blind, per se, as radar still functions. Snow is the worst though - both visually obscuring and radar absorptive.
Thrymr 12y ago
We're very far from this being the case now, though. Humans are very good at filtering multiple inputs and coming up with a reasonable understanding of their surroundings when sensory input is limited or different form normal. Computers are still not. Yes, maybe different sensors on the car will help, but real situational awareness and adaptability is what will be hardest to program. Not something that will never happen, I'm sure, but also not as soon as some hope.

deelowe 12y ago

I believe the autonomous cars simply can't operate in adverse conditions and have mechanisms in place to detect when the sensors are failing. This is why they still require an operator in the driver's seat. It's also why the car they showed without the steering wheel is a bit ridiculous.

pj_mukh 12y ago

Yes, this one factor will be the key to the success of this kind of technology. As much as I love Google spearheading this movement, other car companies have made good headway into catching up in a way that is more robust to rain/fog etc and also doesn't need pre-mapped routes. Mercedes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHqB47F12vI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHqB47F12vI Note the lack of GIANT lidars :). Though I'm not entirely sure how much of it is really autonomous.

a_c_s 12y ago
I agree! This is why I'm more excited about Volvo's technology than Google's: I'm sure people in Sweden have snow at the top of mind when developing this technology, rather than sunny Californian roads.