Science Common Sense

702 - How do self-driving cars work?

Self-driving cars use a combination of technologies to navigate roads safely. Here's how:

1. Cameras: They take pictures of the road and detect things like lanes, traffic lights, and pedestrians.
2. Radar and LIDAR: They use special sensors to detect the distance and speed of other cars, people, and objects around them.
3. GPS and Maps: They know the roads and their location, so they can navigate and find their way.
4. Computer Brain: All the information from the cameras, sensors, GPS, and maps is sent to a powerful computer. This brain uses it to make decisions about steering, accelerating, and braking.

The computer brain is programmed to follow traffic rules and make safe decisions. It can even handle tricky situations like merging onto a busy highway or stopping at a red light.

Self-driving cars are still being developed and tested, but they have the potential to make our roads safer and more convenient.