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

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

View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-self-driving-cars-see-sajan-saini

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.

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.