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Indian-origin scientist developes 'crash-proof' driver-less car

PTI Sep 9, 2013, 09.16PM IST
(A human was in the driver's…)

WASHINGTON: Researchers led by an Indian-origin scientist have developed a new 'crash-proof' driver-less car that can safely navigate its way through busy roads.

The self-driving vehicle, developed by Carnegie Mellon University, demonstrated that it could negotiate congestion and highway traffic while safely changing lanes and merging during a challenging 53km drive from Cranberry, Pasadena, to Pittsburgh International Airport in US.


A human was in the driver's seat as a safety precaution, but all of the driving was done by its innovative software, relying on inputs from radars, lidars and infrared cameras.

"Autonomous driving technology is progressing rapidly," said Professor Raj Rajkumar, who directs CMU's transportation research center and co-directs the CMU-General Motors Autonomous Driving Collaborative Research Lab.

He noted that many auto makers and companies such as Google host active research efforts.

"This car is the holy grail of autonomous driving because it can do it all - from changing lanes on highways, driving in congested suburban traffic and navigating traffic lights," said Rajkumar.

Unlike some previous self-driving vehicles, the SRX doesn't bristle with exotic and expensive sensors, researchers said.






"The car's electronics are simply more reliable than people and will protect drivers from their own bad behaviour as well as those of others, such as drinking or texting," Rajkumar said.