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Interesting, I have exactly the opposite view. The limited visibility that such conditions enforce, making them hard for humans to handle, have much lower effec
by 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 agoFrom 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 agoYou 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 agoWe'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.