Google Self-Driving Car Case Study
Firstly, the core of Google’s self-driving car is the rotating roof top camera, Lidar, which is a laser range finder. It can produce an array of 64 laser beams to create 3D images of objects (see Figure 8 above). This enables the car in identifying obstacles that is along the way. It is also able to calculate how far an object is from the car according to the time the laser beam takes to hit the object and return back. These lasers are of high intensity that can calculate distance and create images for objects within 200m (National Tyres and Autocare 2015, para. 1).
Secondly, a camera is mounted on the windshield (see Figure 7 above), enabling the car to detect objects in front of it such as pedestrians and vehicles. Concurrently, it also …show more content…
7).
5 Users of Google Self-Driving Car
Google Self-Driving cars are made available to everyone according to Google. It aims to increase car utilization from 5-10% to 75% or more by facilitating sharing. (Investopia, 2015, para 7) This means that there will be fewer cars on the road as we can order a google self-driving car and share one together. It will be able to drive up minutes later and take you wherever you want efficiently.
They are particularly useful especially for the physically disadvantaged, the elderly or the visually handicapped. This is because it is a self-driving technology, they can conveniently ride the car and it will take them to their destination without any complications or difficulties.
They are currently being tested on private tracks, and since 2010, on public roads. It was tested in a way that there will be a qualified driver at the driver’s seat, to take control of the movement of the car. At the same time, a Google engineer will be at the passenger’s seat, to monitor the behaviour of the software. (Alphr, 2014, para 16 & …show more content…
Several automakers, such as Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen and Volvo, have announced plans to introduce driverless cars or semi-autonomous models. (LTA 2014, para 1)
The U.S, with three states (Nevada, Florida, California) has passed law in 2012, followed by Michigan in December 2013, to allow driverless cars to be tested on public roads. Other countries have also jumped on the bandwagon.
In Britain, the government is supporting the implementation of driverless cars. In Sweden, Volvo is planning to conduct trials involving 100 of its driverless cars on the streets of Gothenburg in 2017 (Knapman 2013). In Japan, Nissan received the authorities’ approval in 2013 to test its electric car equipped with an advanced driver assist system on public roads. It plans to launch self-driving cars by 2020 (Nissan 2013). (LTA 2014, para
Secondly, a camera is mounted on the windshield (see Figure 7 above), enabling the car to detect objects in front of it such as pedestrians and vehicles. Concurrently, it also …show more content…
7).
5 Users of Google Self-Driving Car
Google Self-Driving cars are made available to everyone according to Google. It aims to increase car utilization from 5-10% to 75% or more by facilitating sharing. (Investopia, 2015, para 7) This means that there will be fewer cars on the road as we can order a google self-driving car and share one together. It will be able to drive up minutes later and take you wherever you want efficiently.
They are particularly useful especially for the physically disadvantaged, the elderly or the visually handicapped. This is because it is a self-driving technology, they can conveniently ride the car and it will take them to their destination without any complications or difficulties.
They are currently being tested on private tracks, and since 2010, on public roads. It was tested in a way that there will be a qualified driver at the driver’s seat, to take control of the movement of the car. At the same time, a Google engineer will be at the passenger’s seat, to monitor the behaviour of the software. (Alphr, 2014, para 16 & …show more content…
Several automakers, such as Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen and Volvo, have announced plans to introduce driverless cars or semi-autonomous models. (LTA 2014, para 1)
The U.S, with three states (Nevada, Florida, California) has passed law in 2012, followed by Michigan in December 2013, to allow driverless cars to be tested on public roads. Other countries have also jumped on the bandwagon.
In Britain, the government is supporting the implementation of driverless cars. In Sweden, Volvo is planning to conduct trials involving 100 of its driverless cars on the streets of Gothenburg in 2017 (Knapman 2013). In Japan, Nissan received the authorities’ approval in 2013 to test its electric car equipped with an advanced driver assist system on public roads. It plans to launch self-driving cars by 2020 (Nissan 2013). (LTA 2014, para