Brazilian students create driverless car

Vehicle was adapted to stop at red light, follow routes and observe speed limits

By Camila Botacin

Imagine leaving home to go anywhere without having to get behind the wheel. And when you want to go back, leave a message for the car - that's right, for the vehicle - and its go alone get you. It seems incredible, but students of the Laboratory of High Performance Computing (LCAD, in brazilian initials) of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (also called Ufes in Brazil) already invented and tested the car walking without a driver. And it works!

The car, which is on display at the 9th Week of Science and Technology, the Pope Square, moves without any human control. To make this possible, students multiple cameras installed on the vehicle. The idea is that the cameras mimic human eyes and can see everything that is around the car. "These cameras are connected to computer programs that we have developed.'s As if the car could see just as a person," said a member of the student project, Mariela Berger.

The goal of the project goes beyond eliminating the need for a driver: the car can benefit visually impaired, disabled and elderly. The vehicle can know everything that's around you. If the light turns red, it stops. "It's totally safe, because you do not need the reflexes that we need to be in transit. He respects the speed limits of the roads and knows when something is in front," said Mariela.

The vehicle has GPS, cameras and sensors, so you can see and do maneuvers. It was also equipped with lasers that do a scan of where is going. The computers attached to the machine reads the data and make a decision. The prototype cost $ 500,000, but the idea is to cheapen the product and become a reality in everyday life. "If we can get the product to market, will help many people who need to get around, but can not do
this alone, "said Mariela.

Learn more about the car than walking alone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6leYbICt9VY&feature=plcp