Study Pours Cold Water on AI Driving Algorithms

A recent report emerging from the center of U.S. auto manufacturing rains on the AI parade with research results claiming autonomous vehicle algorithms fare poorly in bad weather. The study by researchers at Michigan State University found that even light rain or drizzle can interfere with algorithms used in self-driving car cameras. That could mean future fleets might initially be restricted to sunny states like Arizona, California and Florida. The Michigan State study determined that the core problem stems not from cameras used as primary sensors for detecting obstacles but the algorithms used to sort through computer vision data. "When we run these algorithms, we see very noticeable, tangible degradation in detection," Hayder Radha, a Michigan State University professor of electrical and computer engineering, told Automotive Newsin late November. "Even low-intensity rain can really create some serious problems, and as you increase the intensity, the performance of what we consider state-of-the-art mechanisms can almost become paralyzed," added Rahda, who oversaw the study.