Driving in inclement weather is one of the many challenges that self-driving cars must navigate in order to accomplish Level 4 and 5 autonomy. Highway driving in the rain is one of the weather scenarios Torc has been tackling since our self-driving car has been on public roads. We utilize our proven algorithms along with real-time data from our sensor suite to allow the car to “see” at high speeds, even in the rain.
We use the strengths of sensors like Lidar and radar to give our system environmental data in instances that camera visibility is compromised. Lidar is not confused by stark lighting changes like reflective wet roads because it bounces lasers off the surroundings to measure the distance and shapes of objects. Radar is also used to see though visibility blockers like rain and fog, allowing the system to gather information about the environment in cases where even human vision might be limited.
In this video we released earlier in the year, the Torc self-driving car navigates a myriad of rainy conditions at high speeds, from downpours to sunlight reflecting on wet roads after rain subsides.
We’re showcasing the capabilities of our autonomous car system on real public roads with real scenarios the car has encountered. To get updates on the latest videos, check back on our blog or subscribe to our YouTube channel.