A vehicle that is capable to sense its environment and moving in it with little or no human input.

Autonomous cars use various kinds of technologies. They can be built with GPS sensing knowledge to help with navigation. They may use sensors and other equipment to avoid collisions.

Uber's self-driving prototypes use 64 laser beams, along with other sensors. Google's prototypes have lasers, radar, cameras and sonar.

Their control software uses advanced AI algorithms, predictive modelling, obstacle avoidance algorithms and classification to follow traffic rules and to navigate optimally.

They can be further distinguished as being connected or not. Connected cars can communicate with other cars or with the infrastructure of the environment.

References