British researchers develop self-driving car system

Unlike the one from Google, the British-developed technology uses a 3D laser scanner on front of the vehicle

13:29 17 February 2013

British researchers from Oxford University have developed a new self-driving car system and have tested it on UK roads. Compared to the one developed by search engine giant Google, the British-developed technology can cope with rain, snow, and other weather conditions

 

At this time, the system costs about £5,000, but Dr Martin Spring from Lancaster University, the co-author of the paper on potential of driverless cars, says that it could be around £100 a day.

 

The Oxford RobotCar UK memorises regular journeys using cheap technology. It works by producing a 3D image of the route using lasers, which are attached to the front and a camera mounted on the roof.

 

Google, on the other hand, is also testing driverless vehicle technology. The only difference is that it uses much more expensive and complicated systems.

 

The system maps the route using sensors; it was also designed to pick up unfamiliar objects such as pedestrians. This system is currently being tested around the world by numerous car manufacturers and technology companies.