Most manufacturers are working hard on the challenge of autonomous vehicles. Today, legislation does not yet allow fully autonomous vehicles to circulate in urban areas. However, during the exhibition, several vehicles are being demonstrated in front of hall 5.
The journey isn't very long, but it gives you an idea of how such a vehicle works and all the technology on board that is necessary for the bus to operate.
This equipment consists of a central computer that manages movements and a sophisticated navigation system. Today, we are talking about SAE Level 4 automated driving technology, which allows the vehicle to move without human control, detecting road and environmental conditions on predefined routes..
Thanks to this advanced technology, the autonomous bus moves confidently on the road, taking maximum precautions at bus stops, traffic lights, and pedestrian crossings. With its precise localization capability, it calculates the movement of every surrounding object about 20 times per second, ensuring safe transport.
Some of the key components involved in the process include:
- Laser-based remote sensing (LiDAR): detects bicycles, moving or stationary objects, determines the vehicle’s position on the map, and perceives the surrounding environment.
- GMSL cameras: perform object and color detection, object classification, and lane information recognition, allowing the vehicle to keep its “eyes” on the road.
- IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit): used to measure acceleration, calculate rotation speed, and provide position data.
- GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System): used to determine the bus’s coordinates during navigation.
- Radar: one of the main sensors, it contributes to emergency braking, dynamic speed control assistance, and adaptive cruise control by measuring the distance to surrounding objects.