Introduction to Self-Driving Cars

National Taiwan University via Coursera

Overview

Welcome to the "Introduction to Self-Driving Cars" course, offered by the University of Toronto and available on Coursera. This first course in the Self-Driving Cars Specialization is designed to familiarize you with the fundamental concepts, design considerations, and safety assessments involved in the development of autonomous vehicles.

Throughout this course, participants will gain comprehensive insights into:

The hardware commonly used in self-driving cars.
The main components of the self-driving software stack.
Programming for vehicle modelling and control.
Analysis of safety frameworks and current industry standards for vehicle development.

As part of the capstone project, you will have the opportunity to develop control code that enables a self-driving car to navigate a racetrack within the CARLA simulation environment. During this project, you will construct both longitudinal and lateral dynamic models of a vehicle, and devise controllers that manage speed and path tracking performance using Python. This hands-on experience will expose you to the challenges of driving at a vehicle's performance limits.

This advanced course is targeted at learners with a background in mechanical engineering, computer and electrical engineering, or robotics. Potential candidates should have prior programming experience in Python 3.0, along with a foundational understanding of Linear Algebra, Statistics, Calculus, and Physics. Specific hardware and software requirements are necessary for the optimal operation of the CARLA simulator, including a suitable operating system, processor, graphics card, RAM, and OpenGL support.

Enroll now to step into the evolving world of autonomous vehicles through this course. Explore the categories of Statistics & Probability, Autonomous Vehicles, Calculus, Linear Algebra, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering to accelerate your journey towards becoming a part of this technological revolution.