The maps are used for each subsequent autonomous drive, to plan a path from start to goal, to execute the path while avoiding obstacles, and to localize the vehicles as it executes the path.
Today’s series autonomy solutions operate in closed environments (defined by the roads on which the vehicle can drive). The autonomy recipe starts by augmenting the vehicles with drive-by-wire control and sensors such as cameras and laser scanners. The sensors are used to create maps, to detect moving obstacles, such as pedestrians and other vehicles, and to localize the vehicle in the world. The autonomous driving solutions are map-based and benefit from a decade of progress in the area of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). The maps are constructed by driving the autonomous vehicle on every possible road segment, collecting features with the sensors. The maps are used for each subsequent autonomous drive, to plan a path from start to goal, to execute the path while avoiding obstacles, and to localize the vehicles as it executes the path.