Autonomous vehicles use various sensors like ultrasonic sensors, RADAR, LIDAR, image sensors, GPS, and wheel speed sensors to navigate without human input. They rely on sensor integration and technologies like computer vision, V2X communication, and electronic control units to process sensor data. While self-driving cars offer benefits like safety and efficiency, there are also challenges to overcome like unpredictable humans, bad weather, and needing detailed digital maps. Fully autonomous vehicles may become common by 2040 if these issues can be addressed.

1. Autonomous Vehicles

2. INTRODUCTION
• An Autonomous car or a self driving car is a vehicle that is
capable of sensing its environment and navigating without
human inputs.

3. Example 1: Google’s Self Driving Car
Google’s self-driving prototypes rely on their sensors and
software to drive themselves.

4. Example 1: Google’s Self Driving Car
Google’s self-driving prototypes rely on their sensors and
software to drive themselves.

5. Example 2: DARPA Urban Challenge
DARPA Urban challenge team MIT

6. Sensor Technology

7. Sensor 1: Ultrasonic sensor
The distance measurement is done by Ultrasonic transducers
(send and receive the sound waves)
Front view Rear view

8. Sensor 1: Ultrasonic sensor – Piezoelectric effect
Sensor in action.
Piezoelectric effect.

9. Sensor 1: Ultrasonic sensor - Applications
Medical Imaging
Autonomous Vehicles
Ultrasonic cleaning

10. Sensor 2: RADAR sensor
High tech radar systems are capable of extracting useful
information from very high noise levels.
RADAR Sensor Components of a RADAR

11. Sensor 2: RADAR sensor – Doppler effect
Sensor in action
Doppler effect

12. Sensor 2: RADAR sensor - Applications
Military Radars
Autonomous Vehicles
Ground Penetrating Radars

13. Sensor 3: LIDAR sensor
LIDAR transmits optical laser light in pulses to determine distance
to objects.
LIDAR system Components of a LIDAR

14. Sensor 3: LIDAR sensor – Types of LIDAR
LIDAR in action
Airborne LIDAR Terrestrial LIDAR

15. Sensor 3: LIDAR sensor - Applications
LIDAR in agriculture
Autonomous Vehicles
LIDAR speed guns

16. Sensor 4: Image Sensor
Image sensor Components of an Image sensor
An image sensor is the soul of a camera. It is used to determine image size,
resolution, low-light performance, depth of field, dynamic range, lenses and even
the camera’s physical size.

17. Sensor 4: Image Sensor – Computer Vision
Block diagram for computer vision
Output 1 Output 2

18. Sensor 5: GPS Sensor
GPS keeps the car on its intended route with an accuracy of 30 centimeters.
With GPS covering the macro location of car, smaller on-deck cameras can
recognize details like red lights, stop signs etc.
GPS module Components of a GPS system

19. Sensor 5: GPS Sensor – Working principle
Working of GNSS
(Global Navigation Satellite System)
GPS system in action

20. Sensor 5: GPS Sensor - Applications
Automotive navigation systems
Geo-tagging
Fleet tracking

21. In Automotive electronics, Electronic Control Unit (ECU), is a
generic term for any embedded system that controls one or more
of the electrical system or subsystems in a transport vehicle.
Electronic Control Unit (ECU) ECU block diagram
Electronic Control Unit (ECU)

22. Door Control Unit
Brake Control Unit Transmission Control module
Adaptive Cruise Control
Electronic Control Unit (ECU) – Types of ECUs

23. Electronic Control Unit (ECU) – Working principle

24. Sensor 6: Wheel Speed Sensor
Wheel speed sensors provide input to a number of different automotive systems
including the anti-lock brake system and electronic stability control.
Wheel speed sensor (ABS) ABS inside a car

25. Sensor 6: Wheel Speed Sensor – Hall effect
Sensor in action
Hall effect

26. HUD is the outcome of GPS and compass based data about a vehicle position
and the emergence of computer vision technology that can recognize objects on
and around the road and the navigational information as transparent colored
paths.
Heads Up display (HUD)

27. Heads Up display (HUD) – Working
HUD can be fitted in place of windscreen which will give the
view of road plus the required information.

28. Heads Up display (HUD) – Applications
Synthetic Vision Systems
Automobiles
Military aircrafts

29. Sensor integration under the Bonnet

30. Electric Vehicle Battery
EV battery Components of an EV battery

31. V2X Communication
Cars will talk to other cars, exchanging data and alerting drivers to
potential collisions. They’ll talk to sensors on signs on stoplights,
bus stops, to get traffic updates and rerouting alerts.

32. V2X Communication types
As vehicles fall out of the signal range and drop out of the network,
other vehicles can join in, connecting vehicles to one another so that a
mobile Internet is created.

33. V2X Communication – Applications
Safety
Efficiency

34. Roadmap to Automation

35. Features of a Self Driving Car
Adaptive Cruise Control Emergency Braking Self Parking
Traffic Jam Assistants Lane keeping

36. Challenges
• Unpredictable humans: Autonomous vehicles will have to
deal with drivers who speed, pass even when there’s a double
yellow line and drive the wrong way on a one-way street.
• Bad weather: Snow, rain, fog and other types of weather make
driving difficult for humans, and it’s no different for driverless cars,
which stay in their lanes by using cameras that track lines on the
pavement. But they can’t do that if the road has a coating of snow.
• Digital Mapping: Very few roads have been mapped to this
degree. Moreover, maps can become out of date as road
conditions change. There may be construction or detours. An
intersection with a four-way stop might get a traffic light or become
a roundabout.

37. Conclusion
In conclusion, upon addressing the mechanics of the driverless car
as well as its benefits and potential issues, it is quite interesting to
see how the world will actually become by the year 2040.
Sensors that are an integral part of an autonomous vehicle will
become more sophisticated and will potentially have more
functionality addition in the near future.
It is fascinating to see the effects this creation will have on the states
in which it is legalized as well as on the people that have chosen to
experiment with it.