Software Development for Unmanned Vehicles
Currently, there is no established terminology or even a generally accepted name for the smart cars of the future. Most often they are called “connected or autonomous cars. This implies full integration of electronics into all components of the car, as well as a permanent high-speed connection to the Internet for data exchange.
Typically, such a vehicle has a central processor that provides many different functions. But there is still no consensus on which operating system to use in autonomous vehicles.
Many companies have succeeded in developing unmanned vehicles. But does this mean that soon we will be able to get in the car, tell the autopilot where to go, and read the newspaper in peace until we arrive? Unfortunately, no. Or rather, not yet.
Fully automatic operation is too complicated, and a software solution can only cover certain circumstances. In an urban environment saturated with traffic, far from perfect roads and full of unpredictable drivers, it is too early to rely on autopilot.
Here, the main task facing developers of software for unmanned cars is to make a product that will adapt to environmental factors as quickly as possible. Based on this, the developers are beginning to implement many ideas related to road warning systems, recognition and notification of road signs, automatic parking and so on.
In other words, the technique so far acts as a useful assistant to the driver, performing individual operations. But every year the systems are becoming more and more sophisticated, which gives us the right to say that soon the driver will be in the role of a car assistant.
Today no one will be surprised by navigation systems that can find their way to the remotest corners of the planet. However, future navigators, which learn to interact with other systems, will be completely different.
As for the software for unmanned cars, the new navigation systems will be able to collect data on the general routes of the driver and anticipate his wishes. If you drive to work every morning, pick up your kids from school in the afternoon, and go to the gym on Friday nights, the navigation system will memorize your route and prepare for your trip in advance. This means the system will get the weather forecast, a traffic report, compose the best route and even turn on the driver’s favorite music. All the necessary information will be displayed directly on the windshield of the car, as it is done now on military aircrafts.
Another global trend in the development of software for unmanned cars will be the integration of navigation systems into a single information field. Vehicles will be able to receive information not only from satellites, but also from other vehicles or urban infrastructure. For example, before a car arrives at a traffic light, the car software system will know about its operation, as well as the number and speed of vehicles moving ahead. Having processed this data, the navigator can easily advise the driver of the appropriate driving mode.
Active safety systems, being introduced today, are no less interesting. They can monitor the surrounding traffic situation with sensors and avoid unforeseen dangers, and in case of an accident – immediately call the emergency services.
Today’s car is so sophisticated that electronics are involved in monitoring the condition of all of its various parts. The car’s software system can prompt the driver to change the oil or filters when necessary. But the unmanned car software of the future will also be able to closely monitor the driver’s body and condition.
With a steering wheel-mounted heart rate monitor, the system will be able to monitor how you feel, a blink sensor on the rearview mirror will keep you awake, and a breath analyzer will leave no chance for those who are too drunk to drive. If the system decides that the driver’s condition prevents him from driving, it will block the engine. And if the driver gets sick on the road, the system will turn on the autopilot, which will carefully park the car on the curb.
Anti-theft systems are evolving just as rapidly. If we pack our car with different sensors, why not build one that is responsible for authorization processes. In order to open the car and start the engine, a key in its physical sense is no longer needed. A smartphone in your pocket that can open the car will suffice.
If the driver wants to give access to someone else, he simply sends a key in the mail and the person gets access. The security system works not only on the smartphone, but also in the car. It’s not enough to hack the phone to get into the car. An emailed key also cannot be intercepted because the data goes through a cloud server, not directly to the in-car equipment. Anyone who is not an authorized recipient cannot get an electronic key.
Some drone software companies tend to use a retinal scanner for the identification process, while others tend to use fingerprints. The important thing is that now no hacker will be able to open and start the car. And if you want to trust another person to drive the car, all you have to do is add their data to the car’s onboard system just like you do when you create another user profile on your PC.
In addition, thanks to high-speed network access, smart cars are becoming true entertainment centers, offering passengers the ability to watch videos, listen to music, surf the Internet, and chat with friends.
As we can see, the future of these cars is no longer fantasy, it’s real. More and more often now we hear that unmanned cars will replace today’s vehicles, and it’s inevitable. The question is how quickly we adapt to this new reality by providing the infrastructure software for this technology. It is the development of unmanned vehicles that could be our chance to open up and develop a new niche in the automotive industry.