Driving the Car Through the iPad

Although vehicles automation technology is not new, currently many cars that can park themselves or react to changes in road conditions, the scientists believe that the auto system is an important innovation in the car industry.

The Oxford University Robot Car, 
Nissan Leaf.  (Picture from:  
http://www.livescience.com/)

Cars that can drive themselves have long been the stuff of science fiction products. But now scientists have created a robot car that can be controlled via an iPad. With this new robotic technique, people can go anywhere without having to bother driving. Automation techniques developed by engineers from the University of Oxford in England has been demonstrated RobotCar, specifically adapted from the Nissan Leaf electric car, which has a tiny camera and a laser mounted on its chassis.

When the car is driven manually, the camera and laser that mounted will act as the 'eyes', it will mapping the 3D model of the surrounding area, which is then stored in the computer. And then the car be able to 'remember' the streets, allowing the car to drive itself along the known route.

The technology in the Robot Car. (Picture from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/)

"Instead of imagining there are the car driving itself all the time, we have to imagine that one day all cars could be driving their own for some time," said Professor Paul Newman of the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford University. "Simple autonomy and very cheap system that we have developed today, is needed for daily use."

The navigation system in the car that can drive itself using the laser and built-in camera that connected to a computer in the trunk of the car and is controlled via an iPad on the dashboard. When the system recognizes a familiar route, iPad blinking rapidly as a signal to the driver to activate the auto-drive system, which will take over the activities of navigation.

Car in control: An Oxford University scientist demonstrates their newly developed navigation system. (Picture from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/)

If the driver want to activate the autopilot, through the touch screen, and then the car will take over the reins. A laser that is located under the front bumper will scan direction of travel about 13 times per second to anticipate obstacles, such as pedestrians, cyclists, or other cars, to a distance of 164 feet in front and 85 degree angle of view. If the car is found obstacles, it will slow down and stop in a controlled manner. However, the automatic steering system can be stopped at any time by stepping on the brake pedal.

The scientists behind this system say that the technology is far superior to conventional satellite navigation since it is much more precise, and the car does not need to know its reference satellite. "Because of our cities do not change very quickly, the car robot will recognize and look for familiar structures as they pass through it, so they can ask the driver, 'I know this route, do you want me to drive?' and the driver can choose to let technology take over the steering wheel," said Newman.

Automation systems can be developed at low cost, thanks to advances in the field of 3D laser mapping. Unlike the navigation system with global positioning system (GPS), this robotic technology is dependent on the speed of the download image around the vehicle in detail.

The technology will be invaluable for drivers who do fixed route, such as go to work or to school. The researchers believe this automation technology can make driving is the safer activity, more efficient, and more fun for the riders. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE | DAILYMAIL | TJANDRA DEWI | DEDE SUHAYA | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 16022013 | KORAN TEMPO 4146]

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