Ford's Nair: Sensors, software are self-driving cars' main obstacles
Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News Europe
  • Automotive News China
  • Automobilwoche
AN-LOGO-BLUE
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Account
  • login
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • Dealers
    • Automakers & Suppliers
    • News by Brand
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Final Assembly
    • China
    • Shift
    • Mobility Report
    • Special Reports
    • Digital Edition Archive
    • This Week's Issue
    • The course was planned for a Vermont ski resort, until neighbors shouted the idea down.
      Off-road course for Broncos? Not in my backyard
      The 1965 Mustang Shelby GT350 reigned supreme in the Ford Frenzy tournament.
      Shelby GT350 gets its one shining moment
      Dan Parker will pilot his Chevrolet Corvette with a custom guidance system that provides audible feedback.
      Blind racer gets Cruise support, but he'll drive
      You may have won! But no
    • CL 21.009.014 (1).jpg
      Stellantis to build flagship Citroen in China to buttress Asia sales
      Tesla China
      Tesla says data collected in China is stored there
      Huawei
      Huawei to invest $1 billion on auto technology
      GAC Motor Co. launched sales of a new full electric crossover, the Aion Y, in March.
      New-vehicle sales rebound 75% in March from virus-hit 2020
    • The industry is racing to modernize the way in which EVs are built
      As EV output explodes in China, e-axle drive assembly automates
      Plus to roll big rigs on a ‘continuum' toward self-driving future
      Lidar moves beyond vehicles to underpin a reimagined logistics chain
    • WeRide China.jpg
      Nissan-backed startup gets OK to test driverless vehicles in U.S.
      Mobileye Udelv
      Intel's Mobileye teams with startup Udelv on automated delivery
      Nuro Domino's
      Domino's, Nuro to start robot pizza delivery in Houston
      Cruise Origin
      Cruise to deploy robotaxis in Dubai from 2023
    • Elon Musk interview
      Tesla’s Model Y, on sale since March, is a showcase of EV technologies competitors will benchmark.
      Technologies of Electrification
      Cadillac’s Lyriq EV will be unveiled Aug. 6.
      Future Product Pipeline
      A CALL TO ACTION
    • Ad process evolves with pandemic
      Pandemic adds resonance to Garff effort
      Microchip illustration
      The latest numbers on the microchip shortage: GM production pummeled
      Moreno sets sights on Washington
    • Access F&I
    • Fixed Ops Journal
    • Marketing
    • Used Cars
    • Retail Technology
    • Sales
    • Best Practices
    • Dealership Buy/Sell
    • NADA
    • NADA Show
    • Automakers
    • Manufacturing
    • Suppliers
    • Regulations & Safety
    • Executives
    • Talk From The Top
    • Leading Women Network
    • Guide to Economic Development
    • PACE Awards
    • Management Briefing Seminars
    • World Congress
    • Aston Martin
    • BMW
      • Mini
      • Rolls-Royce
    • Daimler
      • Mercedes Benz
      • Smart
    • Ford
      • Lincoln
    • General Motors
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • GMC
    • Honda
      • Acura
    • Hyundai
      • Genesis
      • Kia
    • Mazda
    • McLaren
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
      • Infiniti
    • Stellantis
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Citroen
      • Chrysler
      • Dodge
      • Ferrari
      • Fiat
      • Jeep
      • Lancia
      • Maserati
      • Opel
      • Peugeot
      • Ram
      • Vauxhall
    • Renault
    • Subaru
    • Suzuki
    • Tata
      • Jaguar
      • Land Rover
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
      • Lexus
    • Volkswagen
      • Audi
      • Bentley
      • Bugatti
      • Lamborghini
      • Porsche
      • Seat
      • Skoda
    • Volvo
    • (Discontinued Brands)
    • Virtual reveals (Sponsored)
      • MITSUBISHI: 2022 Outlander
      • NISSAN: 2022 Pathfinder and 2022 Frontier
      • GENESIS: 2021 GV80
      • KIA: 2021 K5
      • LEXUS: 2021 IS
      • NISSAN: 2021 Rogue
      • TOYOTA: 2021 Venza and 2021 Sienna
    • Auto Shows
    • Future Product Pipeline
    • Photo Galleries
    • Car Cutaways
    • Design
  • OPINION
    • Blogs
    • Cartoons
    • Keith Crain
    • Automotive Views with Jason Stein
    • Columnists
    • China Commentary
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send us a Letter
    • Mach-E
      For Ford, 3rd-party charging network must improve to reap Mustang Mach-E potential
      VW logo with reflection
      VW lied to sell diesels; now it lied to sell EVs
      265725_XC90_Inscription_in_Birch_Light.jpg
      Volvo targets top talent in U.S., China with generous parental leave policy
      Fisker gets a rare second chance to build his own car company
    • In case of supply chain woes, break glass
      Quick! The Biden phone
      VW's Joke Is On You
      Joke Is On You
      In case of supply chain woes, break glass
      view gallery
      3 photos
      Leo Michael Cartoons - Q2 2021
      Leo Michael: There's Nothing You Can Do!
      Nothing You Can Do
    • Shifting gears away from the stick shift
      SEMA still a wonderful circus
      Penske still has plenty of races to win
      Ford's turn in the hot seat
    • April 13, 2021 | GM shows it’s serious about electric
      April 6, 2021 | For Volkswagen, authenticity is the only path forward
      March 30, 2021 | Tesla “changes” car industry
      March 23, 2021 | Remote work will continue after the pandemic
    • Tracy Fred
      Dealers deserve access to their data
      Ford's Blue Advantage tool shows it's ‘listening' to dealers
      Jamie Butters
      EV rebates must work at retail
      Dan Shine
      Service drive can lift dealerships as source of used-vehicle inventory
    • Why Xiaomi holds promise of becoming formidable EV player
      Geely’s new EV push is decidedly new age
      Charging poles installed outside a Tesla store in downtown Shanghai.
      Unreliable public EV charging sites prompt automakers to take wheel
      VW Group's playbook to dominate EV market
    • A step in right direction for Nissan dealers
      ‘Voltswagen' April Fools' gag far from funny
      Less is more in lineups as well as on lots
      Electric vehicle charger
      Electric vehicle hype opens door to short sellers
    • ‘Voltswagen' was clever and fun
      With EVs, bias for traditional carmakers
      EV adoption in U.S. shouldn't be forced
      There goes VW recycling again
  • DATA CENTER
  • VIDEO
    • AutoNews Now
    • First Shift
    • Special Video Reports
    • Weekend Drive
    • AutoNews Now: Another threat to supply chain: Rubber shortage
      AutoNews Now: Biden eyes $50B for chip production, research
      AutoNews Now: EV battery decision looms for SK Innovation, LG Chem
      AutoNews Now: Ford skipping summer shutdown at many U.S. plants
    • First Shift: Lithia tops AutoNation in U.S. store count with Suburban deal
      First Shift: Ford dealers plan standalone Bronco stores
      First Shift: Hyundai to idle more output due to chip shortage
      First Shift: Biden's EV plan said to include $100B for consumer rebates
    • How a Seattle-area dealer is teaching, retaining auto techs 
      Virtual sales manager Jay Barger
      'Glued to a phone': Acura store's virtual sales boss lifts deliveries, efficiency
      One man’s journey from homelessness to thriving dealer
      Bert Ogden Auto Group
      How a Texas group is cutting costs, saving millions
    • Why the pickup is the auto industry's 'battleground'
      Carlos Ghosn's quest to restore his reputation
      Why Ford must execute to avoid 'deep trouble'
      Why Honda is 'locked and loaded' for 2020
  • EVENTS & AWARDS
    • Events
    • Awards
    • Congress Conversations
    • Retail Forum: NADA
    • Canada Congress
    • Europe Congress Conversations
    • Fixed Ops Journal Forum
    • Shift: Mobility at a Crossroads
    • 100 Leading Women
    • 40 Under 40 Retail
    • All-Stars
    • Best Dealerships To Work For
      • Register for the 2021 Best Dealership To Work For
    • PACE Program
    • Rising Stars
    • Europe Rising Stars
  • JOBS
  • AN Solutions
  • +MORE
    • Leading Women Network
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • In the Driver's Seat
    • Publishing Partners
    • Classifieds
    • Companies on the Move
    • People on the Move
    • Newsletters
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • RSS Feeds
    • Shift: A Podcast About Mobility
    • Special Reports Podcasts
    • Daily Drive Podcasts
    • AAM
    • Cars.com
    • DealerPolicy
    • Gentex
    • IHS Markit
    • Remember Group
    • Reputation.com
    • Ricardo: Dave Shemmans
    • Ricardo: Marques McCammon
    • Allstate: Want more from your F&I?
    • Ally: Navigating the future of automotive retailing
    • Amazon Web Services: Any place, any time, any channel
    • Amazon Web Services: The power of the cloud
    • Amazon Web Services: Universal translator: Harnessing sensor data to build better automotive software
    • Capital One Auto: Dealerships remain vital to an increasingly digital car shopping journey
    • DealerSocket: 5 steps to modernizing the buyer's journey
    • Epic Games: Real-time tech is the next frontier of automotive
    • Epic Games: Transforming the auto industry with digital assets
    • FTI Consulting: Crisis as a catalyst for change
    • Google: 5 trends shaping the auto industry's approach to a new normal
    • Google: Google's dealer guidebook helps dealers navigate today's digital landscape
    • IHS Markit: Automotive loyalty in the wake of the COVID-19 recession
    • IHS Markit: COVID-19: The future mobility delusion
    • Level5: 2020 Automotive E-Commerce Report
    • Motormindz: Toward hyperconnectivity: 5 ways to position your business to profit from connected car
    • Naked Lime: Bring social reputation together as part of big-picture marketing
    • Wells Fargo Auto: Switching gears from LIBOR to SOFR
    • Ally: Do It Right
    • DealerSocket
    • Deloitte: Cyber everywhere: Preparing for automotive safety in the face of cyber threats
    • Facebook: The road to a zero-friction future
    • Guide To Economic Development
    • PayPal Credit: How consumer financing helps drive sales for online auto parts retailers
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Executives
February 27, 2016 12:00 AM

Ford's Nair: Sensors, software are self-driving cars' main obstacles

Luca Ciferri
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    BLOOMBERG
    Ford foresees a self-driving environment where the vehicle is not only referencing itself to a map but is also updating that map as it's driving, says Raj Nair, head of product development and chief technical officer for the automaker.

    LAS VEGAS -- Raj Nair says he will be first in line when autonomous vehicles go on sale. Nair, Ford Motor Co.'s product development chief and a big fan of self-driving cars, says the vehicles' two biggest needs are improved sensor capability and development of software that can read the road as a human would.

    Nair, 51, has global responsibility for Ford's design, engineering, research and product development. He was interviewed by Automotive News Europe Editor Luca Ciferri in January at the Consumer Electronics Show here.

    Q: When will autonomous vehicles go on sale?

    A: I think it is credible that an autonomous vehicle at SAE Level 4 [one step below full automation] will hit the market by 2020.

    What are the main technical problems?

    There are two we are focusing on: software algorithms and sensor capability. The human body is an amazing array of sensors -- two great optical sensors, auditory sensors and balance sensors that provide information that the brain doesn't only perceive but also filters.

     To reproduce all of that with a combination of lidar [a kind of radar based on laser beams], radar and ultrasonic sensors is a big challenge. Then there are the algorithms. They are reasonably straightforward for the basic aspects of driving. If you can see the white lines it's not that hard to steer the vehicle between them. But for all the other things that your mind works through when driving, you need to be prepared for all of them. This increases the level of sensor capability processing you need.

    So greater sophistication increases the challenge?

    Yes, a lot. It's almost like going up an exponential scale. To get to the first portion is not that hard, but with every percentage above it you're going up exponentially in terms of sensors and processing capability. You also have to ask how far up that scale do we need to be -- forgetting the regulatory aspect -- for our own comfort as a manufacturer. How much better than a human driver does the system need to be for us to feel comfortable putting it into thousands of vehicles?

    From Level 4 to a car that can go from one city center to another, how much more time will be needed? Five years?

    I think it depends. ... We really need exact positioning of the vehicle and to have the vehicle reference itself to a known map. That makes some of the sensing a little bit easier. If you know that an image, based on previous mapping, is a fire hydrant, then you don't need to consider whether it is a fire hydrant or a small boy. ... If you were to provide laser mapping for a highway connecting two cities as you mentioned, then even Level 4 would be capable of that. But if you want to go out on a dirt road or somewhere not previously mapped and expect the vehicle to be able to deal with all the possibilities that could happen -- a cow running across the road, for example -- that's a challenge for Level 5.

    Does connected car require high-resolution digital mapping?

    Our view in the medium time frame we're talking about is yes, we need high-definition digital maps.

    Raj Nair says he will be first in line when autonomous vehicles go on sale.

    Those come from Google and not many other providers, right?

    No. There are quite a few mapping companies and one of them has just been bought by a German alliance. (In December, BMW Group, Audi AG and Daimler AG completed their acquisition of Nokia's mapping business, Here.) In some of our vehicles with lidar systems, we've been mapping as well. We haven't decided whether we will source maps from a partner or develop them ourselves.

    Does it make more sense to buy or license them?

    I think everybody's kind of starting from the same spot as far as developing the high-definition maps we're talking about. It's not enough to have the GPS maps everybody has now. It's not even enough to have Google Street View. You have to go out and do the work. We haven't determined what the right direction is yet.

    Does the world need to be remapped for autonomous driving and how much does it cost per mapping mile?

    For the technology as we see it and within that four-year time frame, yes. As regards costs, I don't have an estimate. Eventually we foresee an environment where the vehicle is not only referencing itself to a map but is also updating that map as it's driving.

    What is the key to connected cars?

    The user experience. We used to talk about connectivity as an individual remaining seamlessly connected when he was driving and that was the basis of Ford Sync. Now we're talking about connectivity as a vehicle being just one of the devices on the Internet of Things. As such, it needs its own connectivity and that's what Sync Connect has -- a 4G LTE connection to the vehicle itself. This creates a lot of capability and possibilities. Our recent announcement of partnerships with Amazon Echo and Alexa is just the start. With Alexa you can be in your house and say, "Alexa, please start my car. Alexa, what's the range of my vehicle?" And on the way home you can say, "Alexa, open the garage door. Alexa, please turn on the TV or change the temperature to 70 degrees." These features are not just about technology for technology's sake, but about making people's lives better and easier.

    When will this technology be available?

    We're talking about this year.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Toyota promotes veteran execs Murtha, Ingle to new roles
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

     

     

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    Toyota promotes veteran execs Murtha, Ingle to new roles
    Toyota promotes veteran execs Murtha, Ingle to new roles
    Detroit 3 execs join voting rights debate in Michigan
    Detroit 3 execs join voting rights debate in Michigan
    Automotive News Daily Drive highlights, April 2-8
    Sponsored Content: 4 Steps Toward a Strong Digital Presence
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    See more newsletter options at autonews.com/newsletters.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Digital Edition
    Automotive News 4-12-21
    THIS WEEK'S EDITION
    See our archive
    Fixed Ops Journal
    Fixed Ops Journal 4-12-21
    Read the issue
    See our archive
    U.S. SALES REPORT: Sign up for our quarterly newsletter and get U.S. sales data and news from the previous month sent to your inbox as soon as it's compiled.
    DAILY DRIVE NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our daily podcast newsletter for a lively and in-depth discussion of the biggest stories, plus interviews with big industry names.
    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    Subscribe Today

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    Subscribe Now
    Connect With Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    Our mission

    The Automotive News mission is to be the primary source of industry news, data and understanding for the industry's decision-makers interested in North America.

    AN-LOGO-BLUE
    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit, Michigan
    48207-2997

    (877) 812-1584

    Email us

    Automotive News
    ISSN 0005-1551 (print)
    ISSN 1557-7686 (online)

    Fixed Ops Journal
    ISSN 2576-1064 (print)
    ISSN 2576-1072 (online)

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • Subscribe
    • Manage your account
    • Reprints
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
    • NEWS
      • Dealers
        • Access F&I
        • Fixed Ops Journal
        • Marketing
        • Used Cars
        • Retail Technology
        • Sales
        • Best Practices
        • Dealership Buy/Sell
        • NADA
        • NADA Show
      • Automakers & Suppliers
        • Automakers
        • Manufacturing
        • Suppliers
        • Regulations & Safety
        • Executives
        • Talk From The Top
        • Leading Women Network
        • Guide to Economic Development
        • PACE Awards
        • Management Briefing Seminars
        • World Congress
      • News by Brand
        • Aston Martin
        • BMW
          • Mini
          • Rolls-Royce
        • Daimler
          • Mercedes Benz
          • Smart
        • Ford
          • Lincoln
        • General Motors
          • Buick
          • Cadillac
          • Chevrolet
          • GMC
        • Honda
          • Acura
        • Hyundai
          • Genesis
          • Kia
        • Mazda
        • McLaren
        • Mitsubishi
        • Nissan
          • Infiniti
        • Stellantis
          • Alfa Romeo
          • Citroen
          • Chrysler
          • Dodge
          • Ferrari
          • Fiat
          • Jeep
          • Lancia
          • Maserati
          • Opel
          • Peugeot
          • Ram
          • Vauxhall
        • Renault
        • Subaru
        • Suzuki
        • Tata
          • Jaguar
          • Land Rover
        • Tesla
        • Toyota
          • Lexus
        • Volkswagen
          • Audi
          • Bentley
          • Bugatti
          • Lamborghini
          • Porsche
          • Seat
          • Skoda
        • Volvo
        • (Discontinued Brands)
      • Cars & Concepts
        • Virtual reveals (Sponsored)
          • MITSUBISHI: 2022 Outlander
          • NISSAN: 2022 Pathfinder and 2022 Frontier
          • GENESIS: 2021 GV80
          • KIA: 2021 K5
          • LEXUS: 2021 IS
          • NISSAN: 2021 Rogue
          • TOYOTA: 2021 Venza and 2021 Sienna
        • Auto Shows
        • Future Product Pipeline
        • Photo Galleries
        • Car Cutaways
        • Design
      • Final Assembly
      • China
      • Shift
      • Mobility Report
      • Special Reports
      • Digital Edition Archive
      • This Week's Issue
    • OPINION
      • Blogs
      • Cartoons
      • Keith Crain
      • Automotive Views with Jason Stein
      • Columnists
      • China Commentary
      • Editorials
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Send us a Letter
    • DATA CENTER
    • VIDEO
      • AutoNews Now
      • First Shift
      • Special Video Reports
      • Weekend Drive
    • EVENTS & AWARDS
      • Events
        • Congress Conversations
        • Retail Forum: NADA
        • Canada Congress
        • Europe Congress Conversations
        • Fixed Ops Journal Forum
        • Shift: Mobility at a Crossroads
      • Awards
        • 100 Leading Women
        • 40 Under 40 Retail
        • All-Stars
        • Best Dealerships To Work For
          • Register for the 2021 Best Dealership To Work For
        • PACE Program
        • Rising Stars
        • Europe Rising Stars
    • JOBS
    • AN Solutions
    • +MORE
      • Leading Women Network
      • Podcasts
        • Shift: A Podcast About Mobility
        • Special Reports Podcasts
        • Daily Drive Podcasts
      • Webinars
      • In the Driver's Seat
        • AAM
        • Cars.com
        • DealerPolicy
        • Gentex
        • IHS Markit
        • Remember Group
        • Reputation.com
        • Ricardo: Dave Shemmans
        • Ricardo: Marques McCammon
      • Publishing Partners
        • Allstate: Want more from your F&I?
        • Ally: Navigating the future of automotive retailing
        • Amazon Web Services: Any place, any time, any channel
        • Amazon Web Services: The power of the cloud
        • Amazon Web Services: Universal translator: Harnessing sensor data to build better automotive software
        • Capital One Auto: Dealerships remain vital to an increasingly digital car shopping journey
        • DealerSocket: 5 steps to modernizing the buyer's journey
        • Epic Games: Real-time tech is the next frontier of automotive
        • Epic Games: Transforming the auto industry with digital assets
        • FTI Consulting: Crisis as a catalyst for change
        • Google: 5 trends shaping the auto industry's approach to a new normal
        • Google: Google's dealer guidebook helps dealers navigate today's digital landscape
        • IHS Markit: Automotive loyalty in the wake of the COVID-19 recession
        • IHS Markit: COVID-19: The future mobility delusion
        • Level5: 2020 Automotive E-Commerce Report
        • Motormindz: Toward hyperconnectivity: 5 ways to position your business to profit from connected car
        • Naked Lime: Bring social reputation together as part of big-picture marketing
        • Wells Fargo Auto: Switching gears from LIBOR to SOFR
        • Ally: Do It Right
        • DealerSocket
        • Deloitte: Cyber everywhere: Preparing for automotive safety in the face of cyber threats
        • Facebook: The road to a zero-friction future
        • Guide To Economic Development
        • PayPal Credit: How consumer financing helps drive sales for online auto parts retailers
      • Classifieds
      • Companies on the Move
      • People on the Move
      • Newsletters
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • RSS Feeds