Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a system that uses only simple maps and visual data to enable driverless cars to navigate routes in new, complex environments.
The MIT researchers describe an autonomous control system that “learns” the steering patterns of human drivers as they navigate roads in a small area, using only data from video camera feeds and a GPS-like map. Then, the trained system can control a driverless car along a planned route in a new area, by imitating the human driver.
To train the system initially, a human operator controlled a driverless Toyota Prius equipped with several cameras and a basic GPS navigation system, collecting data from local suburban streets including various road structures and obstacles. When deployed autonomously, the system successfully navigated the car along a preplanned path in a different forested area, designated for AV tests.
Source: Traffic Technology Today
Name of Author: Adam Frost