Will Your Next Car Drive Itself?

In the late 1960s, the computer installed on the Apollo command module was the most compact and efficient computing machine designed, although it couldn’t even compare to the soon-to-be released TI 30 from Texas instruments. How far we have come since then. Computer modules connected to sensor arrays now tell us when our car is about to strike a stationary or moving object. They let us know when we’re drifting from our freeway lane. This so-called Level 2 autonomy is soon to be replaced by even more amazing features, and these advancements, known as Level 3 autonomy, will allow a vehicle to practically drive itself. Below are a few examples of what the auto industry is now unleashing on the retail market. These include test models from BMW,Mercedes-Benz, and Infiniti.

BMW 750i xDrive

This 2016 model features the same forward camera system as the Infiniti, but it is a stereo camera mounted on the front of the rearview mirror. This amazing camera allows the computer systems to monitor the distance and size of objects. The depth perception is strikingly accurate. Five radar units are mounted on the front grille, side body panel, and rear bumper. These monitor traffic in front, in adjacent road lanes, and behind.
The model features what BMW calls the Active Driving Assistant Plus. Most of the driver awareness systems including forward collision warning, emergency braking, and pedestrian detection, are standard across the model trim lineup.

Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG

This test model has a suggested list price of well over $200K, although the actual sticker price will probably be far less. The S65 AMG comes with the same basic camera features as the BMW model described above. The radar sensors are capable of accurately pinpointing the distance, speed, and direction of most any large moving object, and the driver can view the results on the screen display.
The emergency braking, collision alert, and adaptive cruise control make this model one of the most self-driving on the market. Other than pushing the gas pedal and steering the car around turns, the vehicle responds to traffic congestion with very little input from the driver.

Infiniti Q50S

This model was unveiled in 2015 and is certain to undergo even more fine-tuning for the 2017 model year, perhaps with a permanent model name change. The Q50S is equipped with what is now becoming familiarly known as an automobile nervous system. Infiniti’s nervous system is a surround-view camera and a radar sensor.
The windshield camera detects lane edge and signals the car’s brain to make automatic lane-keeping adjustments. It also is in control of the automatic high-beams and automatic windshield wipers. The radar enables the adaptive cruise control. Infiniti lists its driver aid package as a combination of predictive forward collision warning, emergency braking, and active lane control. It’s important to remember that the Q50S is a Level 2 autonomous vehicle, meaning that the driver still has to operate the steering wheel and press on the gas pedal.