The testing required for fully autonomous vehicles of the future, and semi autonomous vehicles being released in the market today is extensive.

Things like radar guided cruise control and active breaking is just two of the many things that undergo strict and thorough checking in the required testing period; and from this, the foam-bot car known as the Global Vehicle Target was created.

The foam-bot replicates a real car to automotive sensors, with the added benefit of being made out of foam to minimise long lasting damage. It is also able to be re-assembled after a crash in just 20 minutes.

But it’s not as simple as just putting together a foam block.

The autonomous technology used in vehicles is very intelligent and the foam-bot needs to look like a real car right down to the finer details. This includes such details as the ‘windows’ reflecting the radar just like real glass in a car and even the wheels and tyres reflecting radar and other electromagnetic beams.

The foam-bot is a fantastic tool as the world of autonomous vehicles looms closer and will be used to develop new technologies to beat the problems and hurdles as they appear.

Source: Built for Science

25 Sept 2018