Autonomous Vehicles 101

This step-by-step guide, on how to create your own Autonomous Vehicle, addresses the fundamental considerations and decisions that need to be made when starting the journey of developing one owns Autonomous Vehicle. The first and most important step is to define the purpose for the autonomous vehicle, which will in return specify the vehicle type, velocity, holding capacity and the type of traffic environment to be expected. Based on those specifications the next step is the selection of the appropriate perception sensors and ways of digesting the data from these sensors in real time using capable software and computing platforms. Step number three defines on how to control the vehicle, which can be fully electronically with a by-wire system or by adding computer controlled motors and actuators on a regular non-by-wire vehicle to enable it for autonomy. The last step is the most challenging, as it involves actual intelligence to define the necessary decision making for steering, acceleration, and braking in varying traffic situations. A modular algorithm approach allows the user to combine different modules to adapt to the chosen autonomy scenario.