Self-Driving Cars Are Hot Right Now But How Do They Work?

Self-driving cars are armed with heavy technology, but we spoke to an expert to see how it actually works.

Cars embedded with chips respond to signals they receive. (Photo: iStock)

Every car maker is busy in the workshop, devising ways to make self-driving cars that can shape the future of the automobile industry.

And for those who’re excited about brands like Tesla and Audi, they’ll be pleased to know that industry experts feel that by 2020, the self-driving segment will reach its first milestone of making it to the roads.

So before that happens, have you wondered how a car can detect what’s in front of it, and make sure it evades the obstacle? We met with Lars Reger, Senior Vice President and CTO at NXP Automotive, to decode the technology behind self-driving cars, and how important the role played by science and technology is in making it happen.

Why We Need Self-Driving

The term ‘self-driving’ was coined way before cars were brought into the picture. Planes have been flying on auto-pilot mode for many years now with mostly positive outcomes. But with self-driving cars on the road, the equation is more complex than flying between clouds.

Which is where companies like NXP and Siemens come in. They have designed radar chips that are embedded across cars and even traffic signals, which can be used to detect moving objects in close proximity.

Globally, over 1.3 million accidents are reported, says Reger, out of which 200,000 are mishaps in India. This is where he feels the use of autonomous driving could bring down fatalities.

95% of accidents happen because of human error. So, if the control of the car can be given to a robot, the figure will come down to 0.1%.  

Lars Reger, Senior Vice President and CTO, NXP Automotive

Many cars like these are being tested on the roads. (Photo: Reuters)

That’s a pretty bold statement from him, especially when we have seen multiple Tesla incidents where the self-driven cars have rammed into buses and cars, and have even fallen off a cliff once just recently.

Magic, Or Science?

Usually, we say there’s no rocket science behind most of the regular stuff. But when you consider the task at hand, to make driving a safer experience and change the dynamics of the automobile forever, it’s a little different.

As highlighted by Reger, a self-driving car comprises of various sensors that act as the eyes and ears of the car. Like in a submarine, the radar sensors send out waves and depending on how they bounce back, the car knows what to do.

In a self-driving car, the use of radar, camera and lidar is what makes it possible for a four-wheeler to move around on the road without hurting anyone. Cameras come close to our eyes, and work even when the conditions aren’t favourable for clear sight. 

Lars Reger, Senior Vice President and CTO, NXP Automotive

So, how does the radar help the car in detecting other cars or people on the road?

You don’t need a big block of steel for the radar signal to reflect on these systems, which work even with a big bag of water. Humans are nothing but an 80 kilo pack of water. So, if I start walking, I can create the radar signal that the car sensors can detect and take action against.

Lars Reger, Senior Vice President and CTO, NXP Automotive

Sensors on self-driven cars could work better than our eyes. (Photo: iStock)

These sensors can be fit under the bumper, that way, the car gets to know if there is a bump or traffic ahead of you. The radar and camera work in tandem, so that you're always sure of driving in a clear path.

Self-driving cars being made by Google come equipped with 19 radar sensors, which is currently the standard.

In addition to NXP, Siemens is another company that’s using the sensors to good effect, embedding them in traffic signals to make crossing roads for pedestrians a safer routine.

While talking about the use of sensors, Reger reiterates that it totally depends on what the car makers want to do and how much self-driving they allow the cars to do.

Are Self-Driving Cars Hacker-Friendly?

With so much technology and the internet heavily involved in the making of a self-driving car, I was curious to know the downsides, and possibility of hackers invading the system.

Even with heavy addition of tech, Reger believes that the soul of the car is still very much centred around the powertrain and brakes, which need to be robust.

But to make sure that doesn’t come in between the dynamics of the technology in tow, car makers need to ensure that the internet-connected parts of the car do not interfere with the main system.

Representative Image. (Photo: iStock)

The cars getting hacked now were designed 15 years ago, and were equipped with software which is outdated But brands like Tesla have realised that, which is why they are working to improve the quality of self-driving cars coming in the near future.

Lars Reger, Senior Vice President and CTO, NXP Automotive

He finishes off our discussion by stating that traditional car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Ford have capable self-driving tech, but unlike media-savvy Tesla or Faraday Future, they are staying safe with what they have to offer, before making bold claims.

Reger claims that NXP is working with every car maker on self-driving technology for the future, and with Qualcomm’s mobile solution under its wing soon, it’s time to get excited about self-driven cars spotted across the globe in just a few years from now.