Last year’s Consumer Electronics Show in January 2008 saw General Motors showcase its concept vehicle – the Chevrolet Tahoe ‘Boss’, which has the distinction of being able to drive itself, completely on its own.
The technology of the vehicle is certainly very promising, considering the fact that majority of accidents take place due to one single factor – human error.
The vehicle draws its name from the nickname of GM’s R&D founder, Charles F. Kettering, who was also referred to as the ‘Boss’. This version of the Tahoe has been developed through a partnership between General Motors, Carnegie Mellon University and numerous other partner companies.
Charles F. Kettering - Whose Nickname gave this Tahoe its Nickname - 'Boss'!
Regarding the technology of the vehicle, it essentially uses a combination of LIDAR, radar, vision and mapping / GPS systems, by which it is able to see the world around it. The Tahoe ‘Boss’ is actually smart enough to not only recognize road geometry but also accurately perceive traffic as well as other obstacles on the street. It achieves this feat using a complex combination of algorithms as well as various computer software.
Full Frontal with the 'Boss' - She sure means Business!
The ‘Boss’ was put to test wherein it was made to navigate its way through 60 miles of urban traffic, busy intersections and stoppage signs in a time of less than 6 hours, and it came up trumps to actually win the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) 2007 Urban Challenge competition.
Watch the ‘Boss’ make its moves, with inputs from its developers, in the Video below:
This feat is definitely an eye-opener as well as a clear demonstration of the possibilities that electricity can be put to use for; not only can vehicles of the future be made to run on electricity, they can even be driven by it! The day does not seem far when we would simply back in our cars and either watch TV or have breakfast while being driven to work – by the car itself!
Already, there is immense technological assistance available to drivers in present-generation vehicles, with features such as GPS, reverse-sensing ability, satellite navigation, etc. But this feat takes matters to a whole new dimension wherein the vehicle is able to fully drive itself on its own.
And GM is at the forefront of all such technological developments. Numerous driver-assist features already available on GM vehicles include StabiliTtrak; GM’s GPS-enabled OnStar safety and security system; pre-crash sensors; side blind zone assist; and lane departure warning systems. GM is working on similar initiatives with Carnegie Mellon University with regard to autonomous driving technologies through its collaborative research laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh.
Understand GM’s StabiliTrak technology, in the video below:
Knight Rider may no longer remain just a Television series we used to view in the yesteryears; it may very well become a part of everyday life!