How Do Self-Driving Cars Work?

Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous cars or driverless cars, rely on modern technology to get you to point A to B without needing you to take full control. If you’re new to this concept, you aren’t alone! In this post, we’ll go over the basics of how this technology works, along with some pros and cons of autonomous cars.

How Do They Work?

Self-driving cars rely on an array of ultrasonic sensors in their wheels and cameras around their body to detect their surroundings. Intricate software inside the vehicle processes what these sensors and lenses pick up and give the car instructions on when to brake, accelerate, and which direction to steer.

There are five classifications of self-driving cars. Regular cars sit at Level 0. Levels 2 through 4 include cars ranging in various degrees of partially autonomous driving, which all still require some human interaction/supervision. Fully autonomous cars are listed as Level 5 and can operate with no human driver at all.

As of right now, no fully autonomous cars are on the market. We can expect to wait several more years until this technology is released for sale to the public.

Partially/semi-autonomous vehicles are available, however. These vehicles require some degree of human involvement, but still significantly less than a regular car. Partially autonomous features can also be purchased and added to your current vehicle for a less hands-on experience.

Some companies currently working on semi and fully autonomous vehicles include Waymo, Tesla, General Motors’s Cruise Division, Apple, and Uber.

In Canada, Ontario is the only province at time of writing to allow driverless cars on the road. These vehicles are being tested in pilot programs with strict rules on where and how they can be driven. None are fully driverless yet, but the government has already confirmed they can be used in the province once the technology is fully developed and proved safe.

Pros of Self-Driving Cars

Increased Mobility

For those with disabilities and/or limited mobility, including limitations related to driving, driverless technology could make it much easier to get around.

Reduced Human Error

Autonomous cars would eliminate the minor accidents and traffic jams caused by everyday human error.

Better Fuel Efficiency

Autonomous cars are designed to consistently brake and accelerate smoothly, preserving your fuel. Many self-driving cars are or will be electric, which puts less of a strain on the environment, as well.

Cons of Self-Driving Cars

More Expensive

It’s extremely expensive to fund the research and development of self-driving technology. This means the price for one of these vehicles—at least at first—will probably be much higher than a traditional car.

Sensitive to External Conditions

Icy Road - Self Driving Car Con

Driverless cars are highly sensitive to their environment. This is good in the sense the vehicle is “aware” of its surroundings, but certain conditions, such as extreme weather, can disrupt its precision. Autonomous vehicles also can’t pick up on certain things that humans can, like differences in traffic regulations or the social cues drivers use to communicate on the road. Although traffic regulations can be programmed into a vehicle, social cues? A whole different ball game.

Safety Concerns

Many people are concerned about the safety of totally driverless cars. Although developers claim these vehicles will reduce the number of accidents on the road, as of right now, having an alert and experienced driver behind the wheel seems like the better option. These cars also present a whole new safety concern: their technology could be at risk of hacking.

Will Autonomous Cars Take Over?

It’s unlikely we’ll see fully autonomous cars dominate the automotive industry any time soon. As the technology develops, we’ll see a lot more partially autonomous vehicles and features hit the market, though, because these can enhance the driving experience while still keeping the driver engaged to take control in certain situations.

If you’re interested in a car with self-driving features, these are some models currently available:

To find new and used car listings in your area, visit Ontariocars.ca. For more automotive tips and news, take a look at our blog.