Renault’s self-driving car avoids obstacles as well as pro drivers

TL;DR

Autonomous control system achieves professional-level obstacle avoidance in emergency situations.

Transcript

(uptempo house music) - So tell me, what are we about to see here today? - Today we're announcing an autonomous control system that's able to successfully complete obstacle avoidance maneuvers in emergency situations, up to the same speeds as a professional test driver. - Nice. And can you tell me a little bit about the technology itself? - Sure. T... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏆 The autonomous control system is designed to match the obstacle avoidance skills of professional test drivers.
• 😨 Learning from the best human drivers is crucial for enhancing the safety and performance of autonomous cars.
• 🚨 The system can achieve the same levels of performance as test drivers in emergency situations.
• 🌍 Inflatable obstacles are used to simulate real-world scenarios that require quick evasive maneuvers.
• 😀 Speed limitations for obstacle avoidance depend on conditions and scenarios, with testing up to 27 miles per hour in the demonstration.
• 🦺 The autonomous control system aims to surpass human driving safety benchmarks for increased road safety.
• ❓ Loose gravel surfaces offer unpredictable conditions for obstacle avoidance systems to navigate.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the autonomous control system achieve professional-level obstacle avoidance?

The system achieves professional-level obstacle avoidance by learning from the driving skills of experienced test drivers. By analyzing their techniques and strategies, the technology can replicate their performance in emergency situations.

Q: What kind of obstacles are used in the demonstration?

In the demonstration, six inflatable obstacles are used. These obstacles are deployed in pairs to surprise either the driver or the person in the car, simulating scenarios that require rapid evasive maneuvers.

Q: What are the speed limitations for obstacle avoidance in the current setup?

The speed limitations depend on the conditions and scenarios. In the presented demonstration, speeds of around 27 miles per hour are tested. However, these speeds are on a loose gravel surface, which creates unpredictable conditions. The surface is roughly halfway between ice and dry road conditions in terms of performance.

Q: How does the autonomous control system ensure safety?

The autonomous control system aims to surpass human driving safety benchmarks. Despite humans already being excellent drivers, achieving and surpassing their safety standards is crucial for the safety and success of autonomous cars. The system learns from the best drivers to enhance safety and avoid accidents.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A new autonomous control system is announced, capable of performing emergency obstacle avoidance maneuvers at speeds matching professional test drivers.

• The technology is inspired by the exceptional driving skills of humans, aiming to surpass their safety benchmark.

• The system is demonstrated with inflatable obstacles that require quick evasive maneuvers.