This article was posted by CrystalWind.ca.
Japanese make precise 3D city maps to prepare for robot car boom
- Details
- Written by AndEl
A leading Japanese map maker is making extremely accurate 3D maps of Japanese cities in the expectation of a boom in robotic cars in a few years. The maps would help future cars navigate heavy traffic and bad weather.
A demand for the product may emerge as soon as 2018, Zenrin expects, according to an Asahi Shimbun report. The company says it has seen a sharp increase in inquires about their map data recently and is now providing data to select automakers for testing.
The Kita-kyushu-based mapmaker reasons that automated cars would need better maps than humans for better predictability. A robotic driver uses cameras and radar to explore its surroundings.
But obstructions on the road or conditions like heavy rain or snow can hamper the senses. Having a precise map pre-installed to cross-reference real-time data against it would help, said Ikuo Yamaguchi, a senior executive at Zenrin.
The new maps are generated semi-automatically thanks to data gathered by the company’s cars travelling the streets, much as Google does for its Street View service.
The cars are equipped with cameras and radar imagers that combine their feeds to identify the locations of objects as small as street signs and rail guards.
Driverless cars are being successfully tested at the moment, with leading Japanese carmakers like Toyota, Nissan and Honda among the pioneers. Across the Pacific, Google is also figuring in the emerging technology.
Credit: rt.com
© CrystalWind.ca 2025. All content (articles, imagery, fair use) & design protected. Written permission required for copying. All rights reserved.
Join the Conversation Now! Comment Below!
Spirit Animal Totem Of The Day!
Crystal Of The Day!
Latest Articles
The Crystal Wind Oracle
Myth & Magic Card Deck!
Details Here!
NEW Expanded
Printed & Boxed!
Now with 58 cards!
CrystalWind.ca is free to use because of
donations from people like you.
Donate Now »
Unlock Your Light: Join Lightworkers Worldwide on CrystalWind.ca!
Articles: AndEl: Technology
Follow Us!
Who is Online Now
We have 23651 guests and no members online
Featured This Month
Imbolc Customs
Imbolc, (pronounced im-bolk) or Candlemass, Imbolg, Bride's Day, Oimelc, and... Read more
Imbolc Lore
Imbolc (pronounced "IM-bulk", "IM mol'g" or "EM-bowl/k") is one of the Great... Read more
Brigid, Celtic Goddess of Fire
Image From the Crystal Wind Oracle App Available on IOS, Android and Am... Read more
Imbolc and the Promise of Spring
Winter’s medicine is about rest, recovery, and withdrawing inside ourselves.... Read more
Imbolc - The Feast of Brighid
Image source: The Crystal Wind Oracle Myth & Magic Card Deck.Get it here... Read more
Birth Totem - Otter
Birth Totem Otter Birth dates: January 20 - February 18 Birth Totem: Otter... Read more
How to Make a Brigid's Cross
The Brigid's Cross is a traditional craft made at Imbolc and Candlemas by Pa... Read more
The Rowan Tree - January 21 - February 17
The Fire Festival Of Brigantia Celtic Symbol : The Green Dragon Read more
Rest & Cleansing Moon
Otter – Quaking Aspen – Silver January 20 to February 18 The Rest and Clea... Read more
Amethyst: A Stone for the Age of Aquarius
Amethyst has long been thought of as a "stone of spirituality and contentmen... Read more
Aquarius Mythology
The Aquarius Myth The Tale of Aquarius: A Story of Beauty, Power, and Immorta... Read more