Innovations in self-driving car technology are making headway in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A collaborative effort between Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Western Michigan University has led to an advanced system enabling autonomous vehicles to navigate with increased reliability in challenging weather conditions. On a stretch of curvy road in the city, a demonstration showcased a self-driving car proficiently following the path by interacting with high-tech road markers, according to a recent report by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The technology uses raised pavement markers with microchips to send important road information to cars, especially when cameras can’t see through snow or fog. ORNL's lead researcher, Ali Riza Ekti, explained that their system uses radio waves to transmit data from the markers to the cars. It can gather information from 50 locations in one go. Ekti is excited about how these markers can improve navigation and help electric vehicles travel longer distances on a single charge.

In practice, this could be a game changer, as the chip-enabled markers have proven to transmit critical lane information along different routes, surpassing the capabilities of some standard commercial vision processing systems. Specifically, a study indicated these innovative markers had a 100% success rate in conveying lane data across a variety of road types, while the comparison vision system struggled with steep curves, detecting lanes only 7% of the time.

The ORNL and Western Michigan University team is working on bringing their technology to the market, which could greatly advance autonomous driving. This innovation improves safety and efficiency, especially in poor visibility conditions. It shows how road infrastructure can actively help with navigation, not just be a passive part of driving. Local officials in Chattanooga and Hamilton County recently saw the technology in action and are impressed by its potential.