A number of industries, including delivery businesses, are excited at the prospect of autonomous vehicles becoming more widespread—and more embraced—throughout the country. However, there is one challenge that autonomous vehicle developers have yet to find a solution to: Bad weather. Inclement weather is a major issue for autonomous vehicles that needs to be solved before widespread use becomes possible. Fortunately, technology companies are working to develop new solutions that make it possible for autonomous vehicles to perform better in poor weather conditions. Here is what you need to know.
Autonomous Car Testing
The vast majority of autonomous car testing has been in done in places like Arizona, where snow, rain, and other inclement weather conditions are rare. This was done on purpose. Still, most of the accidents that occurred with autonomous cars occurred when roads were wet or weather has otherwise been poor. Now, testing of autonomous cars has entered regions like Boston, where snow, ice, and other poor weather conditions are frequently possible.
The results have not been good. Autonomous cars have difficulty judging the road ahead of them when it is covered in snow. To navigate, these cars rely on a system of cameras, GPS, radar, and lidar, which uses lasers to detect obstacles. During rain, snow, and fog, the cameras and lidar do not work properly, which dramatically reduces the ability of the car to maneuver safely.
New Technologies for Bad Weather
There are a few different technologies in the works to help alleviate these issues. One is ground-penetrating radar that won’t be confused when the road surface is covered. The other involves making improvement to lidar technology so that weather conditions don’t interfere with how the lasers work.
These changes have not yet been implemented in most autonomous vehicles, but once viable solutions are found, they are expected to become widespread.
At Xcel Delivery Services, we’re committed to bringing our customers the most advanced, efficient delivery methods available, whether they need deliveries across town or across the country. Talk to one of our delivery team members in Tucson today by calling (520) 355-4897.
