# 107. Mitigating High Emissions of Autonomous Cars

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2023-01-31
- Length: 23m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-31-107-mitigating-high-emissions-of-autonomous-cars
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/107-mitigating-high-emissions-of-autonomous-cars-jCO_IpHU

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss research from MIT’s Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, led by Sumia Sudakar, Vivian Sze, and Sertac Karaman, which estimates that autonomous vehicle computing could generate emissions equivalent to all global data centers. The team proposes a cap of 1.2 kilowatts per vehicle’s computing system, requiring hardware efficiency to double annually to maintain carbon neutrality. The hosts argue for specialized, in-house chip designs and software optimization, citing Google Pixel’s camera strategy as a successful model for maximizing value from fixed hardware rather than chasing the latest sensors.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-31-107-mitigating-high-emissions-of-autonomous-cars#t=0) Introduction: Autonomous Vehicle Emissions and MIT Research
- [2:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-31-107-mitigating-high-emissions-of-autonomous-cars#t=166) The Scale of Computational Emissions: 1 Billion Cars vs. Data Centers
- [6:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-31-107-mitigating-high-emissions-of-autonomous-cars#t=391) Uncertainties in Fleet Size and Grid Dependency
- [10:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-31-107-mitigating-high-emissions-of-autonomous-cars#t=614) The Efficiency Challenge: Doubling Performance Annually
- [12:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-31-107-mitigating-high-emissions-of-autonomous-cars#t=766) Specialized Hardware and In-Chip Design Trends
- [15:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-31-107-mitigating-high-emissions-of-autonomous-cars#t=927) Google Pixel Case Study: Software Optimization Over Hardware
- [19:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-31-107-mitigating-high-emissions-of-autonomous-cars#t=1158) Adding Sustainability as a Design North Star

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mouser Electronics (company)
- MIT (company)
- Google Pixel (product)
- iPhone (product)
- Facebook (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Opto Computing R&D | Broadcom Did What, Now? | Testing Autonomous Vehicles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-08-16-opto-computing-r-d-broadcom-did-what-now-testing-autonomous-vehicles) (EE Times Current)
- [Carver Mead Says Neuromorphic Efficiency Can Help AI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-10-04-carver-mead-says-neuromorphic-efficiency-can-help-ai) (EE Times Current)
- [Deep Dive into Arm’s Physical AI and Robotics Strategies with Drew Henry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-06-23-deep-dive-into-arms-physical-ai-and-robotics-strategies-with-drew-henry) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Ep 215: Autonomous Race Car, Espresso Robot, and Vintage Computers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-04-21-ep-215-autonomous-race-car-espresso-robot-and-vintage-computers) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [52: Maximize the Sonic Boom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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