Volvo’s Self-Driving Cars Are Being Driven Haywire by Kangaroos
Just when the industry thought it was solving most of the puzzles in self-driving cars, a new one has hopped into the picture: Kangaroos.
Take Volvo for example. According to PC Magazine, “Volvo’s self-driving cars use the ground as a reference point for distance, and the kangaroo’s hopping makes it hard to determine how far away they are.”
In the U.S., may be worried, but “down under,” kangaroos cause more car accidents than all other animals combined, says the Melbourne-based newspaper Herald Sun. And get this, they are are reportedly responsible for nine in ten road accidents involving animals there.
According to a report from Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Volvo has been testing it autonomous vehicles in Australia, and working to solve the kangaroo issue.
But here’s the rub according to Volvo Australia’s Technical Manager, David Pickett who told the ABC that the unusual way the marsupials move confuses the company’s autonomous vehicles. The challenge is that Volvo’s self-driving cars use the ground as a reference point for distance. But,the kangaroo’s hopping makes it pretty darn difficult to determine how far away they are.
Australia isn’t alone with its unique animal issues. Volvo has already tested its detection system, for example, on moose in Sweden.
But in Australia, well there’s plenty more work to do, mate.
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