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It's late, pitch dark and a self-driving car winds down a narrow country road. Suddenly, three hazards appear at the same time. With no human at the wheel, the car uses smart eyes, sensors that'll resolve these details all in a split-second. How is this possible? Sajan Saini explains how LIDAR and integrated photonics technology make self-driving cars a reality.

Lesson by Sajan Saini, directed by Artrake Studio.

How do self-driving cars "see"? - Sajan Saini

Self-driving cars navigate pitch-black roads and sudden hazards using advanced sensors inspired by both radar and the internet’s pulse of data. LIDAR’s invisible infrared lasers can spot details as tiny as a button on a distant shirt, while integrated photonics shrink complex technology into chips smaller than a tenth of a millimeter. By combining rapid-fire laser pulses and ultra-precise detectors, these systems achieve depth perception more than a hundred times sharper than human vision. This powerful partnership allows cars to react instantly, seeing through darkness, weather, and uncertainty.

How Laser Eyes and Tiny Chips Guide Self-Driving Cars

TED-Ed

technology

animation

driverless cars

innovation

invention

future

machine learning

transportation

TED-Ed Original

Sajan Saini: How do self-driving cars "see"? - Sajan Saini