An autonomous vehicle is a mobile robot that can navigate and drive completely by itself, with no human intervention. The vehicle uses sensors such as cameras and lasers to gather information about its environment. The computer then sends commands to drive and steering motors to propel the vehicle.
Autonomous vehicles are the machines of the future.
The US government is mandating programs for the development of intelligent transportation systems, including vehicles that drive autonomously. Companies are also researching other uses for autonomous vehicles, including coal-mining carts and vacuum cleaners that do not require a human operator. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems and the Society of Automotive Engineering jointly sponsor an international autonomous vehicle competition each year at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Virginia Tech has competed in this competition for the last three years, sending a total of four vehicles and winning the design category every year. The competition is divided into two parts the design part and the performance part.