Autonomous Vehicles: Their History and Evolution

Due to developments in radar technology and computer capacity, autonomous driving has moved from science fiction to a realistic reality over the past 20 years. The advancement of portable technology has made it possible for ultra-light hardware to use self-learning algorithms to make judgments, improving the capacity of autonomous cars to mimic human decision-making.

Table of Contents

The early beginnings: The 1500s

Leonardo da Vinci created a self-moving cart in the 1500s using high-tension springs and pre-set steering which can be considered as the first robot. A horseless, automated cart envisioned by Leonardo da Vinci was never constructed while he was alive.

The Benz Motor Car No. 1, which was patented in 1886, is frequently considered as being the first real, modern automobile. This three-wheeled, gas-powered vehicle signaled the arrival of motorized transportation, replacing the horse-drawn buggies. In addition, Benz is credited for creating the throttle system, spark plugs, gear shifters, water radiator, and carburetor, among other essential vehicle parts. His automaker, the Daimler Group, is still in business today.

Simon Steven of Holland constructed a wind-powered chariot in the 1600s, while Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot invented a steam-powered artillery piece-moving machine in 1769.

Innovations of the Early 20th Century

In 1925 Francis Houdina presented a radio-controlled car demonstration in Manhattan. The vehicle could be radio-controlled to start and steer, but it had problems with operation. At the World’s Fair in 1939, General Motors unveiled an electric self-driving vehicle that was steered by electromagnetic fields that were controlled via radio. This idea was realized by 1958 when sensors that sensed currents in the road could be used to steer the vehicle.

Innovations of the late 20th century

The first autonomous vehicle was developed at Carnegie Mellon University in the 1980s, marking the beginning of autonomous driving technology. This car, named ALVINN, was an Army ambulance that had been modified so it could drive itself about the campus without assistance from a person.

The vehicle’s eyes were an early form of lidar, which is still used by most autonomous and semi-autonomous cars today to perceive their surroundings. The space’s interior resembled an FBI surveillance van, with numerous computers that could be used for anything from air conditioning control to road monitoring.

The 21st-century innovations

The earliest uses of Generation 1.0 autonomous systems, which use sensors and preprogrammed rules to traverse their surroundings, appeared in the early 2000s. This technology is similar to meticulously following a recipe, where the outcome may vary. The DARPA Grand Challenges, which are prize contests for autonomous vehicles supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense, are a well-known example of an application of Gen 1.0 technology. By the early 2000s, the autonomous vehicle sector was well established, and the U.S. The Department of Defense was funding these competitions to push the boundaries of technology. Major automakers including Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW as well as ride-sharing services like Uber started making investments in self-driving technology by the middle of the 2010s.

The vehicle brand “Mobileye”, was ahead of the curve in terms of fundamental self-driving technology, while others were still grappling with the intricacies of developing autonomous vehicles (AVs). Mobileye has concentrated on creating computer-vision technologies for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) since its founding in 1999. By 2013, nearly a million cars had incorporated Mobileye’s technology, which kept improving driver-assist functions. Mobileye realized that a self-driving system was a collection of independent processes cooperating rather than a single unit. They developed their first self-driving automobile by outfitting an Audi A7 with a variety of these technologies.

Current status of Autonomous vehicles

Today’s Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has six stages of driving automation. Level 0 (no driving automation) and Level 5 (complete driving automation) are the different levels in this hierarchy. While they may have cruise control and driver support systems like ABS, Level 0 vehicles do not have automated driving capabilities. Level 2 provides partial automation with advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), whereas Level 1 provides continuous help for braking, steering, and accelerating. In Level 3, conditional automation is included. This means that although the system can take over driving duties, the driver must remain alert and prepared to intervene. Level 4 provides for a high degree of automation, usually utilized in low-speed, particular applications where systems can manage faults without involving the driver. Lastly, Level 5 denotes complete automation that eliminates the need for driver assistance. In this scenario, cars run without steering wheels or pedals, freeing up occupants to participate in activities unrelated to driving.

Autonomous vehicles, widely seen as the way of the future for both private and public transportation, are gradually capturing market share. Approximately 31 million automobiles globally were operating with some degree of automation in 2019. It is anticipated that by 2024, their population will exceed 54 million. In line with this, it is anticipated that the market for autonomous vehicles will expand globally. Although the market was valued at more than 24 billion dollars in 2021, it is anticipated to grow to around 62 billion dollars in 2026.

Although the market for self-driving cars has come a long way in less than 40 years, fully autonomous driving is still a long way off. The industry concentrates on L2 and L3 advanced driver assistance systems to make them commercially viable and gradually gain customer acceptance.

As of November 2023, there are no fully autonomous vehicles on the road; the majority of breakthroughs are at the L2 stage. Even autonomous taxi services are restricted to certain locations and come under L4 automation, necessitating human control during testing.

Future Prospects

Because autonomous driving makes driving safer, more convenient, and more pleasant, it has the potential to revolutionize consumer mobility. By allowing people to use their commuting time for other activities, AD systems may boost worker productivity and make it possible for more people to reside further away from their places of employment. In addition to increasing road safety and mobility for senior drivers, AD has been linked to a 15% decrease in accidents in Europe by 2030, according to a study.

In a nutshell, this article discusses the development of autonomous cars from their early origins in about 1500, as well as advances from the early and late 20th centuries. This article also discusses the prospects for autonomous vehicles in the future and their current condition.

References and further reading

Leonardo da Vinci’s Self-Propelled Cart Invention — Leonardo Da Vinci Inventions (no date). https://www.da-vinci-inventions.com/self-propelled-cart.

Yellon (2022) The evolution of autonomous cars. https://www.smarteye.se/blog/the-evolution-of-driver-monitoring-systems-for-autonomous-cars/.

Ventures, P. (2024) Self-Driving Cars: A history in the making since 1980’s. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/self-driving-cars-history-making-since-1980s-pravega-ventures-vemlf.