Skip to main content

How do self-driving cars “see”? - Sajan Saini

539,810 Views

10,229 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

It’s late, pitch dark and a self-driving car winds down a narrow country road. Suddenly, three hazards appear at the same time. With no human at the wheel, the car uses smart eyes, sensors that’ll resolve these details all in a split-second. How is this possible? Sajan Saini explains how LIDAR and integrated photonics technology make self-driving cars a reality.

How critical may an integrated photonics chip be to implement LiDAR all around a self-driving car? Might the same level of precise or comprehensive probing be achieved with a traditional spinning LiDAR apparatus? Does the small size of an integrated photonics chip create novel opportunities to probe different vicinities, for unique automobile driving and parking needs?

Sign in to answer question

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Sajan Saini
  • Director Igor Coric
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Animator Nemanja Petrovic
  • Producer Milica Lapcevic
  • Sound Designer Nemanja Petrovic
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez

More from Inventions that Shape History