Race Cars Planet

Automated Driving: How Cars Will One Day Drive Themselves

Have you ever glanced at the driver behind you and noticed that person was shaving or putting on makeup behind the wheel? Or worse, perhaps he or she was reading the newspaper while cruising along the highway. As dangerous as such habits are today, we may one day be able to do them without sacrificing our safety or the safety of other drivers. In the not-so-distant future, vehicles will drive themselves.

Even though it seems implausible, the technology that will allow our cars to navigate the highways and avoid collisions without our input already exists. Automakers continue to develop systems that let vehicles communicate with each other while on the road. Collision avoidance systems and smart cruise control are merely the beginning. Below, we’ll take a closer look at the ways in which automotive technology is making the implausible a reality.

Communication Between Cars And Roads

Many vehicles already use sensors to help their drivers avoid colliding with other cars. For example, lane-change warning systems will alert the driver that there is another vehicle within a blind spot. In some cases, the system will even trigger an evasive response (for example, engaging the brakes).

Major cities employ a robust communication network through which traffic can be managed efficiently and congestion can be minimized. Over the next several years, we’re likely to see increased integration between automotive computers and this highway infrastructure.

Smart Cruising

Smart cruise control devices have been around for years, but the technology behind them is still expanding. The most recent improvements allow the motorist to cede braking and acceleration control to the computer while cruising. If a vehicle ahead slows and as a result, the distance between it and the driver shortens, the computer will engage the brakes automatically. When the car ahead accelerates and the space between widens, the computer engages the throttle. That relieves the motorist of the responsibility of slowing down and speeding up, especially useful during stop-and-go traffic.

Compensation For Drifting

Motorists often drift unintentionally across lane dividers. This can lead to traffic collisions as other drivers brake, swerve, or otherwise try to avoid the drifter. Automakers have begun installing warning systems that alert the person behind the wheel if they’re drifting. Cameras and sensors will monitor that the vehicle is moving over the lane markers without the appropriate turn indicator being engaged. An audible alarm will sound. If it is ignored, the computer can engage one of the brakes to move the vehicle back into the lane from which it’s drifting.

While automated driving may be several years down the road, the basic technology already exists. The main obstacle to widespread adoption is cost. As with most automotive technologies, the features will first be installed in high-end cars and then gradually expanded into the mass market. One day, we may watch other drivers shaving or applying makeup while sitting behind the wheel and think nothing of it.