Skip to main content

Duck soup

Researchers at the highly prestigious MIT University in the US are developing technology for advanced autonomous vehicles, with the help of toy taxis and plastic ducks. The research team have set up a large test area to simulate urban streets, fitting cameras to the toy taxis to allow the development of sophisticated algorithms that will help in controlling full-sized autonomous vehicles when the work is complete. The plastic ducks meanwhile have been brought along to enjoy the ride, simulating the presence
August 23, 2016 Read time: 1 min
Researchers at the highly prestigious MIT University in the US are developing technology for advanced autonomous vehicles, with the help of toy taxis and plastic ducks. The research team have set up a large test area to simulate urban streets, fitting cameras to the toy taxis to allow the development of sophisticated algorithms that will help in controlling full-sized autonomous vehicles when the work is complete. The plastic ducks meanwhile have been brought along to enjoy the ride, simulating the presence of (uncomplaining) passengers.

Related Content

  • Innovative asphalt paver advances for 2015
    April 8, 2015
    Pressure on asphalt paver manufacturers to develop new and more efficient machines is bringing results - Mike Woof writes. For all the key manufacturers in the asphalt paving segment, pressure is being brought to bear with regard to the development of new and more efficient machines. Both for US and European style of pavers, incremental improvements are being seen in machines. In keeping with regulations for Europe and North America, many of the new generation machines are now being powered by the latest lo
  • Size matters
    January 21, 2014
    A man in America has built the world’s smallest road legal car. This measures 63.5cm high by 65.4cm wide and 126.5cm long. The man regularly drives the vehicle on the road close to his home in Austin, Texas. He says passers-by often stop him as they want to be photographed with the vehicle, which has plastic bodywork from a model of a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air and a motor from a child’s quad bike. Meanwhile a man in Italy has built the world’s tallest driveable motorcycle. This resembles a ‘chopper’ with high
  • Space, the final frontier for Komatsu
    January 26, 2022
    Space represents the final frontier for Komatsu.
  • New barriers coming to market worldwide
    July 28, 2015
    European and US manufacturers traditionally hold strong positions in the global market for road safety barrier systems. The strength of the European and US testing systems and processes as well as their respective legislation have helped this position. Both European and US standards for road safety barriers are well understood in other territories and are also accepted in many countries around the globe.