Will Japan win the race to produce crucial 3D mapping for driverless cars?
The government is backing a system developed by Mitsubishi Electric that includes a wealth of details such as trees and pedestrians, and promises to be off by no more than 25cm
Technology companies are racing to develop ultra precise digital maps that can guide self-driving cars within inches of where they should be – a hurdle the industry needs to clear if it hopes to deliver on its promise of widespread use of driverless vehicles.
Japan’s government is backing a three-dimensional mapping system developed by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation that includes a wealth of details such as trees and pedestrians. It promises to be off by no more than 25cm (9.8 inches).
That would be a big improvement over satellite-based GPS, which is used by ships, aircraft and increasingly by drivers or on mobile phones but can be off by up to 20 metres (65 feet), especially inside buildings or underground.
The developers say the improved mapping technology likely will be used first in vehicles in isolated areas such as warehouses, or it might be used to help drivers of vehicles that are not entirely autonomous.
Its challenges and dangers were highlighted in March when a self-driving Uber SUV being tested on a street in suburban Phoenix struck and killed a pedestrian in the industry’s first fatality.