Ford has announced that it is the first of the automakers tests a fully Autonomous car in terms of winter weather, including snow. Driving on snowy roads is usually complicated for the autopilot that road markings are not visible. In Ford with this problem coped with the help of 3D mapping and high resolution LiDAR sensors.
Ford has been testing the drones in winter conditions in Michigan. Including tests conducted in the city-Mcity polygon with an area of 13 hectares, built by the University of Michigan.
The LiDAR sensor gives the autopilot more accurate data than GPS to determine the position of the car on the strip to the nearest centimeter. LiDAR detects nearby objects, but when the roads are covered by snow or when very high traffic density LiDAR, cameras, and other sensors, do not “see” the road. In addition, the sensors may be covered by snow, and mud. For this case, the cars use detailed 3D maps of high resolution with such nuances as markings, signs, landmarks and topography. The autopilot is maps when driving in nice weather, noting road signs, trees and buildings. Then these cards can be used in bad road conditions.