Ford is testing its autonomous vehicles in complete dark using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology.
This technology enables the autonomous vehicles to 'see' in complete darkness. This technology is being used in conjunction with cameras and radar to detect obstructive objects on the road.
Ford says that cameras can be troublesome while detecting objects during night time and hence, LiDAR technology is turning out to be much more reliant for detecting objects during night time.
According to an estimate by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle occupant fatality during night time was found to be three times higher than day time.
Ford autonomous vehicles technical leader Jim McBride said: "Thanks to LiDAR, the test cars aren't reliant on the sun shining, nor cameras detecting painted white lines on the asphalt.
"In fact, LiDAR allows autonomous cars to drive just as well in the dark as they do in the light of day."
Ford uses high-resolution 3D maps with complete information about the road, road markings, geography, topography and landmarks such as signs, buildings and trees.
By using LiDAR technology, the vehicle can locate itself on the map in high detail with short bursts or pulses in real time.
The car shoots out 2.8 million pulses of infrared laser per second to detect the surrounding environment.
This detection is coupled by radar which will further improve the car's full sensing capability.
Ford engineers are testing and monitoring this laser technology and are recoding its outcomes.
Ford research scientist and engineer Wayne Williams said: "Inside the car, I could feel it moving, but when I looked out the window, I only saw darkness.
"As I rode in the back seat, I was following the car's progression in real time using computer monitoring. Sure enough, it stayed precisely on track along those winding roads."
Ford is planning to add another fleet of 30 autonomous vehicles for testing in the states of California, Arizona and Michigan.
In the long run, Ford has plans to achieve SAE International (Society of Automotive Engineers) Level 4 (High Automation) where the autonomous vehicle does most of the job, even when the driver or the occupant does not respond to a request to intervene.
Image: Ford testing its autonomous vehicles using LiDAR technology to see in the dark. Photo: Courtesy of Ford.
