Radar navigation for autonomous cars can 'see' through smoke, dust and fog

For autonomous cars to be able to navigate, their optic sensors--like cameras and laser--require a clear view. Now, researchers at Örebro University have successfully improved the precision in radar sensors for navigation to such a degree that the sensors can be used in autonomous cars, making them for safe driving whatever the weather. "The advantage with radar is that it works in all weather conditions and can'see' through smoke and dust," says Daniel Adolfsson, doctoral student in computer science at Örebro University. With this new method, an autonomous car that has traveled 100 meters, is able to determine where it has traveled with a precision of 1 meter. That is an improvement of the radar sensors' positioning system by 1 meter.