To have a car that drives itself across the crowded Indian streets has been every driver’s fantasy, I’m sure. This may soon turn into reality thanks to Google’s new technology for which the USPTO has recently granted a patent.
The patent is titled ‘Transitioning a mixed-mode vehicle to autonomous mode’ and involves a car that allows someone to sit in the passenger seat as the car drives for them. It contains a method to switch a vehicle from a human-controlled mode into the state where it takes charge of the wheel. You can read more about the patent here. The car was first disclosed in October 2010, when it was in its advanced stages of development.
The patent document speaks about two sets of sensors. The first identifies a ‘landing strip’ when the vehicle stops (Google has applied for a patent on the ‘landing strip’ too). Google says the landing strip could simply be a mark on the ground, a sign on a wall, or lines or arrows showing where the vehicle should be parked. This then triggers the second set which receives data informing the machine where it is positioned and where it should go. The car functions with the help of video cameras, radar sensors and a laser range finder to ‘see’ other traffic, as well as detailed maps (which they collect using manually driven vehicles) to navigate the road ahead.
Google has also revealed that their car has driven over 200,000 miles since testing began and that it can navigate through roads in different conditions (this bit of news is sure to bring a smile on many a driver in India!).
News reports suggest that scientists at Oxford are also working on a car that can ‘see’ the world around it, but differs from Google’s car in many ways. Looks like frustrated drivers have a lot to look forward to!!
Author: Vasundhara Kamath
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