Autonomous vehicles go off-highway

Advances in sensors, CPUs, and software help in the drive to eliminate drivers.

Off-highway engineers are making solid progress in the push to complete truly driverless vehicles, though they are not yet close to the mainstream. Development is being aided by continuing advances in the range of sensors and receivers that provide input.

These sensors are coming down in price while their capabilities are rising. On the control side, the need for computing power continues to benefit from the nonstop advances of the semiconductor industry. As engineering staffs press beyond operator assistance systems toward full autonomy, they're already targeting applications that seem to offer the greatest potential.