Chapter 3 Sensor Technologies

Sensors are foundational components in autonomous systems, serving as the vehicle's means of perceiving and interpreting the external environment, analogous to human sensory systems. All autonomous driving algorithms rely on the integrity and quality of sensor-derived data. The following figure illustrates the principal sensors commonly used in autonomous vehicles. It is important to note that these are specialized for autonomous driving and exclude standard automotive sensors such as those monitoring voltage, airbag deployment, or tire pressure.

For clarity, these sensors can be categorized into two types: exteroceptive sensors and proprioceptive sensors.

Exteroceptive sensors acquire data from the vehicle's surroundings, while proprioceptive sensors provide information about the vehicle's internal state and dynamics.