Manufacturing Minute: Autonomous Driving Systems

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In this episode, Mercedes-Benz shows off its self-driving bus of tomorrow and a look at research on semi-autonomous driving systems. Welcome to your Manufacturing Minute.
Self-Driving Bus
Automaker Mercedes-Benz has shown the world a glimpse of the future of public transport with a demo of its Future Bus with CityPilot.
The Future Bus itself uses the company’s Citaro bus model and is powered by a 299-hp Mercedes-Benz OM 936 in-line six-cylinder engine. CityPilot is a technology platform building upon Mercedes' autonomous Actros truck and gives the vehicle the ability of automated lane-keeping, longitudinal guidance, acceleration and braking functionalities.
The autonomous functions of the vehicle manage speeds of up to around 43mph and navigates to bus stops along its route, making sure to slow down and stop to pick passengers up, pulling to within 2 inches from the curb. The driver doesn’t need to accelerate, brake or steer. The bus driver’s duties are reduced to controlling the bus to the extent that traffic regulations require and taking control in the event of an emergency or unseen event.
CityPilot uses 10 cameras to scan the road and the vehicle's surroundings. The route ahead is monitored by radar systems, while GPS, lane-tracking cameras and four cameras for global visual location are used to determine bus position within its surroundings.
While short-range autonomous buses are already getting deployed, mostly in controlled privately-owned settings around the world, but this Mercedes pilot shows is a successful real-world.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Will CityPilot advance an autonomous driving future? Tell us what you think by leaving your comments below.
Semi-Autonomous Driving Systems
Semi-autonomous driving systems came under fire in the wake of the first fatal crash involving Tesla's Autopilot earlier this year.

But a new study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University says the benefits of currently available technologies overwhelmingly outweigh those concerns.

The crash that killed an Ohio man in May occurred when his Tesla Model S failed to discern a semi-truck turning in front of him on a Florida highway.

The accident prompted reviews by federal authorities and calls for Tesla to overhaul its Autopilot system, which, like systems from rival automakers, uses cameras and sensors to keep cars within their lane and at safe distances from surrounding traffic.

The Carnegie Mellon study, however, found that deploying forward collision warning, lane departure