Building on our overview of the autonomous driving landscape, this article examines the technical architecture that makes self-driving vehicles possible.
Sensing Stack
Autonomous vehicles rely on multiple sensor types working together:
- LiDAR for precise 3D mapping of surroundings
- Cameras for visual recognition and reading signs
- Radar for detecting motion and measuring distance
- Ultrasonic sensors for close-range detection
Perception and Planning
The AI system must interpret sensor data to understand the environment and make driving decisions. This involves object detection, tracking, prediction, and path planning.
China's Approach
Chinese companies like Baidu, Pony.ai, and WeRide are developing their own full-stack autonomous driving solutions, often with unique approaches to sensor fusion and AI.