How are autonomous vehicles using AI?

As AI capabilities grow, automated vehicle systems are evolving. Some companies aim for full Level 4/5 autonomy, while others focus on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). For example, Imagry pursues “mapless” autonomy, and Nauto applies AI to enhance driver safety.

Nauto founder Dr. Stefan Heck believes vehicles aren’t ready for fully driverless deployment, so his philosophy is to “support humans first.” Nauto’s AI-driven windshield camera system monitors the road and driver behavior, predicting risks several seconds ahead to issue warnings. This approach has achieved roughly 65% crash reduction on average (up to 90% in the best cases).

Imagry’s system builds a real-time 3D model of the surroundings using eight cameras and neural networks, instead of relying on HD maps. By processing everything on-board, it can handle unexpected changes (like work zones or temporary signs) instantly without waiting for map updates, and even operate in tunnels or parking garages.

A bus fitted with Imagry’s mapless autonomous driving technology

Both companies see early use in public transit: Nauto in police and municipal fleets, and Imagry with autonomous buses. As the AV industry matures, their approaches complement each other. Nauto’s technology offers immediate safety benefits for today’s vehicles, while Imagry’s map-free system points toward fully self-driving cars. Both rely on AI and real-time perception to make roads safer one vehicle at a time.

For the full article, visit Traffic Technology International.