XVII Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2025

The purpose of the study:

To analyze the main technologies that can be used in unmanned vehicles and identify the advantages and disadvantages of using suchvehicles in everyday life.

The relevance of the problem:

We definitely consider that the issue of autonomous cars can be regarded as one of the most relevant aspects today. Many automotive manufacturers have already introduced various control assistance systems into new cars, such as adaptive cruise control, directional stability, automatic braking in case of obstacle detection and many other technologies.

Obviously, unmanned vehicles represent up-to-date technologies that are rapidly developing and being introduced into various spheres of modern life. These machines are capable of moving without human intervention, using sensor systems, artificial intelligence and big data processing algorithms. In this research we will compare the technical characteristics of different self-driving cars and formulate their main advantages and disadvantages.

Sensors used in self-driving cars:

1. RADAR (radio detection and ranging):

This sensor works on radio waves. The transmitter transmits radio signals in all directions, and if there is an object or obstacle in the way, these radio waves are reflected back to the radar receiver. The difference in the frequencies of the transmitter and receiver is proportional to the travel time and can be used to measure distance and distinguish between different types of objects.

We would like to mention that the image below shows a graph of the transmission and reception of signals by radar, where the red line is the transmitted signal and the blue lines are the received signals from different objects over time. So, if we know the time of the transmitted and received signal, we can perform FFT analysis to calculate the distance of the object from the sensor.

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Figure 1 - the principle of operation of the radar.

2. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging):

LiDAR can usually be seen on the roof of unmanned vehicles in the form of a rotating module. During rotation, it emits light at a high rate of 150,000 pulses per second, and then measures the time it takes for them to return after colliding with obstacles in front of it. Since the light is moving at a high speed, 300,000 kilometers per second, it can easily measure the distance to the obstacle, as well as the distance to various points. The collected medium is used to form a point cloud that can be interpreted into three-dimensional images. LiDAR usually measures the actual size of objects, which gives certain advantages (if it is used in automotive technology).

Figure 2 - The world through lidar's eyes.

3. Cameras:

Cameras in vehicles have been used in applications such as parking assistance and rear-end surveillance. Now, with the development of driverless car technology, the role of the camera in vehicles is being modified. Providing a 360-degree view of the environment, the cameras are able to autonomously control vehicles while they are moving.

In order to have an all-round view of the road, cameras are integrated in different places of the car: a wide-view camera sensor is used in front, also known as a binocular vision system, and monocular vision systems are used on the left and right, and a parking camera is used in the rear. All these camera units transmit images to the control units, which stitch the images to obtain a three-dimensional view.

Figure 3 - Types of cameras in cars

4. Other types of sensors in unmanned vehicles:

In addition, there are other types of sensors that are used in unmanned vehicles for various purposes, such as lane detection, tire pressure monitoring, temperature control, ambient light control, telematics system, headlight control, etc.

Advantages of self-driving vehicles:

1. High level of safety: one of the main advantages of such transport is the potential to reduce the number of road accidents. Autonomous control systems can react much faster than humans and are not susceptible to human error.

2. Convenience: unmanned vehicles allow users to free up time during the trip, as they can do other things such as work, reading or relaxing.

3. Cost reduction: autonomous vehicles can reduce travel time, optimize routes and reduce fuel costs. This contributes to an overall reduction in transportation costs.

4. Resistance to traffic congestion: self-driving vehicles can use algorithms to select the most efficient routes, avoiding congestion and reducing overall travel time. This will significantly increase transport efficiency in urban environments. It will also contribute to reducing fuel costs.

5. Accessibility: such kind of vehicles can increase mobility for the elderly, people with disabilities and those who do not know how to drive a car and do not have a driver's license. This makes transportation accessible to a wider range of people.

6. Environmental friendliness: almost all self-driving vehicles are designed with environmental standards in mind. The autonomous system also uses the engine as efficiently as possible, reducing fuel or electricity consumption. This idea can help reduce the release of toxic substances into the environment.

7. Reduced parking requirements: autonomous cars can always perform their functions and either search for parking spots on their own, or simply return home after the user reaches their destination.

8. Improved logistics and delivery: in the field of cargo transportation, unmanned trucks and drones will be able to optimize delivery processes, making them more efficient and faster, reducing costs and time for the delivery of goods.

9. Innovative technologies: the introduction of high technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning will contribute to progress in other industries.

Disadvantages of self-driving vehicles:

1. High probability of technical malfunctions: the technology of such vehicles has not reached perfection yet. Systems can malfunction and it can cause accidents or errors in navigation.

2. Perception problems: autonomous systems can incorrectly perceive and process road conditions, such as road markings or traffic lights, which can affect safety and lead to “unpleasant” consequences.

3. Investments in this industry: the successful implementation of unmanned vehicles requires significant investments in infrastructure, including roads and communication systems, which can be very costly and time-consuming.

4. Legal ambiguity: issues of legal liability in the event of an accident involving an unmanned vehicle under the control of an autonomous system remain unresolved for the time being. Ambiguity (in legal matters) can become a significant barrier to the widespread use of drones.

5. Cybersecurity issues (“digital vulnerability”): unmanned vehicles can easily become a target for hackers’ attacks.

6. Social and economic problems: the introduction of unmanned vehicles can lead to the loss of jobs in the transport sector. This will cause social and economic problems for drivers and other people working in the field of transport.

7. Difficulties adapting to poor visibility conditions: autonomous systems may experience difficulties in difficult road conditions such as heavy snowfall, fog, heavy rain or heavy traffic, where a high degree of reaction and decision-making is required.

8. Accessibility: not all users will have access and funds to purchase the technologies necessary to use autonomous systems. This may lead to an increase in existing inequalities in transport accessibility.

9. Public perception: a large number of people may feel fear or distrust of unmanned technologies, which may slow down their public acceptance and implementation.

10. Technology dependence: increased use of self-driving vehicles can lead to dependence on technology, which can have consequences (if they are malfunctioned).

Self-driving vehicles have the potential to improve the transport system, however, in order to achieve this, many existing problems must be solved.

In conclusion, we are to add that all the advantages and disadvantages of unmanned vehicles have been identified on the basis of analytical and comparison methods. This research can be a reasonable background for other scientific investigations in future.