Ford tested its self-driving vehicles in pitch dark conditions, proving that its autonomous autos can stay on the road using only a small number of sensors.
The recent test demonstrated that the Ford Fusion self-driving car has the technology to rely on navigation without the use of cameras.
Typically, autonomous cars operate based on three sensors: cameras, radars and LiDAR (a system to detect and measure distance with a laser). Cameras, however, are light-dependent, which means that their operational prowess falls in low visibility conditions, such as driving in snow and rain or night-driving.
"[Testing the car] in complete darkness basically took the camera completely out of the equation," Re/Code found out from Randy Visintainer, Ford's leader of autonomous vehicle development.
Ford's latest test, which took place on a closed-circuit in Arizona, showed that the car can find its way in complete darkness using only the radar and LiDAR. You may watch how the experiment went in the video embedded at the end of the article.
"We take any opportunity we can to teach our future customers about the technology so they can learn to trust it," says Jim McBride, Ford's technical lead for autonomous vehicle development.
The autonomous Ford Fusion lapped the Arizona route with no headlights, and used onboard cameras, 3D maps and data collected by beams of laser light to stay on track. Thanks to the on-board computers, the auto was able to know at all times what its position was in relation to the road's limits.
Ford points out that the test was a success, as it demonstrated that the car is able to operate safely in the absence of the camera.
Ford Self-Driving Vehicles, Tests And Projects
Currently, Ford has 10 self-driving vehicles undergoing testing, but the company announced that it will triple their number this year. Some of the cars will be seen on Californian roads, while others will trial in the Mcity. The mock-up town is destined to test automotive capabilities and is located near Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Earlier this year, Ford tested its self-driving cars in snowy conditions at the Mcity. The company points out that testing its autos in bad weather is paramount to assuring a both safe and high-quality road experience for passengers and traffic partners.
Visintainer notes that his company envisions the use of its autonomous vehicles in "some kind of mobility or ride service." He goes on to add that the automaker is tinkering with the idea of a car that has no steering wheel. However, some state laws prohibit autonomous vehicles for lacking manual controls, so Ford's plans may be hindered by the authorities.
Ford is also interested in building vehicles that can switch from manual to autonomous controls. Even more importantly, the company is studying safety protocols that would ensure the self-driving car stops in case of an emergency. One such a case would be if all three sensors go down at the same time.
Google estimates that self-driving cars will be ready to join traffic in 2019, at the latest. Ford, on the other hand, is more cautious and sees autonomous cars reaching customers somewhere between 2020 or 2021.
"The timeline is clearly accelerating," Visintainer affirms.
Until then, watch the video below to learn more about Ford's Project Nightonomy.
