Mitsubishi Has Developed the Best Autonomous Driving Technology Yet
Mitsubishi’s autonomous driving technology might change how we look at our cars.
Written by Alex Healey
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Tesla’s
recall of thousands of self-driving cars
has many people questioning the future of autonomous driving. Can we ever trust a computer to safely operate a vehicle?AI certainly has a long way to go when it comes to replicating the perceptions and responses of humans, but
Mitsubishi
has just announced a huge technological breakthrough. The Japanese carmaker has developed the world’s first software capable of analyzing its surroundings and conveying what it sees to humans in a natural way. Not only will this help bridge the communication gap between AI and human drivers, but it should also help build trust in autonomous driving. Read on to learn more.
Mitsubishi’s groundbreaking technology: the backstory
MORE: GM Is Going to Sell a Self Driving Car by 2025
Spectrum
describes how 10 years ago, colleagues at Mitsubishi Electric’s automotive division in Japan were discussing the problem with satellite navigation.They noted the language used to provide directions to human drivers was not natural. For example, the Satnav would say, “Turn right in 20 meters,” whereas a human would be more likely to reference the car’s surroundings: “Turn right after that Starbucks.”
A human passenger could also point out hazards (“Don’t cut off that cyclist!”), in a way that is far beyond the capabilities of automated driving assistance, but rather than feel deflated, Mitsubishi’s programmers were inspired!
Soon afterward, they developed a system that was able to “watch” a YouTube video, answer questions about what it had seen, and even offer opinions. This provided the basis for Mitsubishi’s latest creation: a navigation system that can provide an accurate take on what is happening around the car. It is called “Scene-Aware Interaction.”
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How does Scene-Aware Interaction work?
New vehicles are equipped with more cameras and sensors than ever before. It is this hardware that enables automatic cruise control, emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and parking assistance.
Mitsubishi’s system leverages this existing technology to create a 3D map of the vehicle’s surroundings. The computer has been taught how to process the images it receives and based on a surrounding object’s size and distance from the car, it knows whether or not to reference said object when advising the driver.
For example, instead of saying, “Turn left in 20 meters,” Scene-Aware Interaction can say, “Turn left after the billboard,” or even “Follow the red car.” It is also able to issue warnings, like “Watch for the bus in the oncoming lane.”
It is designed to mimic the suggestions and language a human passenger might use to give directions. And if the system is unable to recognize any salient objects, it reverts to distance-based navigation, like the satnav systems we are all familiar with.
How will Scene-Aware Interaction change autonomous driving?
Mitsubishi’s new technology can already alert drivers to pedestrians and cyclists, and inanimate objects up ahead. The company predicts that within five years, Scene-Aware Interaction will be offering route guidance based on landmarks.
From there it will become a well-rounded virtual passenger, capable of engaging in conversations about surrounding places, and providing context when driving through areas of historic interest.
Ultimately, Mitsubishi hopes that Scene-Aware Interaction can act as the driver’s personal assistant, helping organize their daily lives. Just imagine getting a text from your car: “Hey! We have to leave in 10 minutes to get to your meeting on time.”
When used in conjunction with self-driving technology, the car will be able to convey what it is doing and why it is doing it. And as natural-voice processing continues to improve, so will our relationship with the technology behind it.
That’s the hope anyway. With over
40% of American drivers never planning on using autonomous vehicles
, automakers need these technological advances to establish a greater level of trust in regard to autonomous driving.Unfortunately for drivers who want to kick back and relax behind the wheel, you’ll still need to have car insurance. For the best deal, try using the
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