DOCUMENTATION

ON

SEMINAR

AUTONOMOUS CARS THE FUTURE CARS

2012 NIIT CALICUT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Acknowledgement Introduction History Technology Benefits Drawbacks Significance Future Conclusion Bibliography

3 4 5 6 7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We are extremely thankful to Mrs.Saritha , our faculty , for giving us the right guidance in spite of her very busy schedule . She made very important suggestions which helped us enhance our preparation . We are indebted to our friends Vandhana , Mehanoor and Nikila who made us stick on to our topic and providing moral support. Their persistence made us more willful and gave us a positive outlook on our work. Most importantly we would like to thank our institution , niit , and other faculties for providing us ample time to use the machines in the lab . Finally , we expresses our great sense of gratitude to each one of who contributed in some or the other way to help us complete the seminar successfully. Thank you all.

INTRODUCTION
An autonomous car, also known as robotic or informally as driverless or selfdriving, is an autonomous vehicle capable of fulfilling the human transportation capabilities of a traditional car. As an autonomous vehicle, it is capable of sensing its environment and navigating on its own. A human may choose a destination, but is not required to perform any mechanical operation of the vehicle. Autonomous vehicles sense the world with such techniques as radar, lidar, GPS and computer vision. Advanced control systems interpret the information to identify appropriate navigation paths, as well as obstacles and relevant signage. Autonomous vehicles typically update their maps based on sensory input, such that they can navigate through uncharted environments

HISTORY
4

An early representation of the autonomous car was Norman Bel Geddes's Futurama exhibit sponsored by General Motors at the 1939 World's Fair, which depicted electric cars powered by circuits embedded in the roadway and controlled by radio

TECHNOLOGY
5

The four major technologies employed in the working of driverless cars are 1.GPS 2.RADAR 3.LIDAR 4.CAMERA

Vehicular communication system Individual vehicles may benefit from information obtained from other vehicles in the vicinity, especially information relating to traffic congestion and safety hazards. Vehicular Communication Systems are an emerging type of networks in which vehicles and roadside units are the communicating nodes, providing each other with information. As a cooperative approach, vehicular communication systems can allow all cooperating vehicles to be more effective. According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, vehicular communication systems could help avoid up to 81 percent of all traffic accidents. Computer scientists at the University of Texas in Austin are developing intersections designed for the autonomous cars of the future. The intersection will have no traffic lights and no stop signs, just computer programs that will talk directly to each car on the road

BENEFITS
Autonomous cars are not in widespread use, but their introduction could produce several direct advantages: Fewer crashes, due to the autonomous system's increased reliability compared to human drivers[ Increased roadway capacity and reduced traffic congestion due to reduced need of safety gaps and the ability to better manage traffic flow. Relief of vehicle occupants from driving and navigation chores. Removal of constraints on occupant's state - it would not matter if the occupants were too young, too old or if their frame of mind were not suitable to drive a traditional car. Furthermore, disabilities would no longer matter. Alleviation of parking scarcity as cars could drop off passengers, park far away where space is not scarce, and return as needed to pick up passengers. Elimination of redundant passengers - humans are not required to take the car anywhere, as the robotic car can drive empty to wherever it is required. Greater suitability for car-sharing services. Reduction of space required for vehicle parking. Reduction in the need for traffic police and vehicle insurance.

Reduction of physical road signage - autonomous cars could receive necessary communication electronically rather than relying on physical road signs and markings. (Although the physical signs would still be required for any human drivers.)

DRAWBACKS

Can be less exciting to drive on certain types of road. Like nice canyon roads with lots of twists and turns at multiple angles a proper manual can be a lot of fun (if you know how to use it correctly.lol) You don't have as much control on the overall powerband (though you can manually shift gears with an auto when going up or down a steep road if necessary, it's not the same). That's why you typically get better acceleration in muscle cars with a manual vs a muscle car with an automatic, with a manual you can get the revs up higher easier to get full power output, on an automatic, it will usually shift before you hit peak power. However, there are instances of cars with automatics that actually do better. For instance the new Cadillac CTS-V has been known to be quicker in automatic than manual configurations due to the driver error factor, the transmission in the CTSV is really good at holding the power. In fact the CTS-V at least until just recently held the record for fastest lap time around the Nurburgring in Germany, and from what I understand that was done on a CTS-V with an automatic transmission, not a manual. Fuel economy, manual transmissions still tend to get a little better fuel economy than automatic transmissions, however, this gap has become smaller in recent years

SIGNIFICANCE

Googles Autonomous Cars Aiming for 1 Million Miles of Error Free Driving

FUTURE

There are four clusters of activity relating to free-ranging off-road cars. Some of these projects are military-oriented. US military DARPA Grand Challenge

Main article: DARPA Grand Challenge The US Department of Defense announced on the July 30, 2002 a "Grand Challenge", for US-based teams to produce a vehicle that could autonomously navigate and reach a target in the desert of the south western USA. In March 2004, the first competition was held, for a prize-money of $1 million. Not one of the 25 entrants completed the course. However, in the second competition held in October 2005 five different teams completed the 135-mile (217 km) course, and the Stanford University team won the $2 million prize. November 3rd, 2007, the third competition was held and $3.5 million dollar in cash prizes, trophies and medals were awarded. Six driverless vehicles were able to complete the 55 miles (89 km) of urban traffic in the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge rally style race. 1st Place - Tartan Racing, Pittsburgh, PA; 2nd Place - Stanford Racing Team, Stanford, CA; 3rd Place - Victor Tango, Blacksburg, VA. European Land-Robot Trial (ELROB)

The German Department of Defense held an exhibition trade show (ELROB) for demonstrating automated vehicles in May 2006. The event included various military automated and remotely operated robots, for various military uses. Some of the systems on display could be ordered and implemented immediately. In August 2007 a civilian version of the event was held inSwitzerland. The Smart team from Switzerland presented "a Vehicle for Autonomous Navigation and Mapping in Outdoor Environments". Israel

As a followup from its success with Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles, and following the construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier there has been significant interest in developing a fully automated border-patrol vehicle. Two projects, by Elbit

10

Systems and Israel Aircraft Industries are both based on the locally produced Armored "Tomcar" and have the specific purpose of patrolling barrier fences against intrusions. The "SciAutonics II" team in the 2004 DARPA Challenge used Elbit's version of the Tomcar. Korean Autonomous Vehicle Competition (AVC) organized by Hyundai Kia Automotive Group In November 2010, the first competition was held, for a winning prize-money of $100 thousand, and the Hanyang University A1 team won the $100 thousand prize.

CONCLUSION
Autonomous cars have emerged in the US and a few developed nations. Google has also given one for its own. So in this modernizing world automation can always give us a positive outlook as long as it is properly implemented and abides by strict rules and regulations.

11

BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.google.com The Hindu newspaper Times now Magazine http://www.autonomouscar.com/

12