For the first time, researchers have analysed how sensors and computers used in self-driving cars contribute significantly to their lifetime energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The University of Michigan-led research found that self-driving cars may save up to 9% in lifetime energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional automobiles.
For this study, researchers looked at how adding autonomous vehicle technology might affect environmental effect compared to predicted improvements in driving economy.
To maximise the environmental advantages of this emergent, disruptive technology, it is imperative that autonomous cars be designed with an emphasis on energy efficiency. We hope that this work will help to improve the transportation system as a whole. You can check out that what will improve fuel consumption, so that the environment can be healthy.
In addition, the research reveals:
A CAV’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are greatly influenced by the resolution of its onboard navigation maps, which are transmitted wirelessly. When high-definition maps are sent over a 4G LTE network, their emissions are 35 percent higher than when standard-definition maps are sent.
The onboard computer’s weight and power requirements have a considerable influence. The computer accounted for 45 percent of the weight, 80 percent of the power consumption, and 43 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the medium-sized sensor and computing subsystem that served as the baseline scenario in the research.
Large, externally-mounted CAV components may greatly increase aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption, thus counteracting the environmental advantages of autonomous cars. Exterior-mounted sensors and computers will continue to become smaller and smaller, but in the near future, the size and form of these devices will have a direct influence.
The study’s results on the possible environmental advantages of driverless cars are qualified by a number of concerns. In the first place, the results are based on an examination of prior research by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that found that CAVs can reduce fuel usage by 14 percent over conventional cars.
A recent research found that if real-world CAV efficiency reductions go below 14%, the environmental advantages are either lessened or eliminated. There is no net emissions decrease in this research if the on-board computers need more power than is estimated.
They are Level 4 linked and autonomous cars, which means they may function without human intervention or supervision in certain circumstances. Prototype Level 4 CAVs are among the vehicles being tested at U-Mcity, M’s a public-private R&D venture spearheading the move to linked and automated transportation.
