# Episode Eleven – Self-Driving Cars: behind the wheel

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2021-10-29
- Length: 34m
- Episode: 11
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-10-29-episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel

## Summary

Dr Richard Hawkins of the University of York and Dr Frederic Labrosse of Aberystwyth University discuss the distinct challenges of autonomous vehicle safety, regulation, and perception. Hawkins explains the difficulty of defining safety cases for AI-driven cars in complex urban environments and the UK's new regulations for automated lane keeping systems. Labrosse contrasts on-road challenges, like plastic bag detection, with off-road issues such as terrain variability and LIDAR sensitivity to grass, highlighting applications in farming, archaeology, and surveying.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-10-29-episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel#t=7) Introduction: Richard Hawkins on Safety Assurance
- [1:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-10-29-episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel#t=97) Defining Safety and the Limits of AI Generalization
- [7:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-10-29-episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel#t=464) UK Regulatory Framework for Automated Lane Keeping
- [11:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-10-29-episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel#t=687) Visual Cues, Body Language, and Connected Vehicles
- [17:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-10-29-episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel#t=1068) Introduction: Frederic Labrosse on Off-Road Perception
- [20:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-10-29-episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel#t=1230) On-Road Perception: The Plastic Bag and LIDAR Issues
- [21:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-10-29-episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel#t=1318) Off-Road Challenges: Terrain, Slopes, and Control
- [26:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-10-29-episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel#t=1584) Getting Stuck and Manual Intervention
- [28:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-10-29-episode-eleven-self-driving-cars-behind-the-wheel#t=1681) Applications: Farming, Surveying, and Archaeology

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- University of York (company)
- Aberystwyth University (company)
- BAE Systems (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Waymo (company)
- LIDAR (tool)
- Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (company)
- NASA Opportunity (product)
- Land Rover (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Autonomous vehicle technology deep dive at John Deere and Zoox](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-18-autonomous-vehicle-technology-deep-dive-at-john-deere-and-zoox) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Nuro navigates to fully autonomous driving](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-11-27-nuro-navigates-to-fully-autonomous-driving) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [192. Karsten Roscher & The Need For Safe AI (Interview)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-09-17-192-karsten-roscher-the-need-for-safe-ai-interview) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [170. Robot That Drives Better Than The Average American](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-04-16-170-robot-that-drives-better-than-the-average-american) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [76. Off-roading & Ending Stoplights With Autonomous Cars](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-06-28-76-off-roading-ending-stoplights-with-autonomous-cars) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

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