American researchers from the University of Washington
conducted an interesting experiment, during which they found out how easy it is
to confuse a vehicle with an autonomous control system by slightly ruining the
road sign painting.
During the experiment, in the first case, scientists
specially pasted several small rectangular stickers on the "Stop"
sign, and placed them in such a way that the main image was not blocked. In the
second, two small inscriptions on top and bottom of the word "Stop"
were put on the same sign. Both times the autopilot decided that it was
preceded by a speed limit sign.
In the third, it would seem, the simplest test
specialists distorted the image of the sign "Movement only to the
right." Directly on the surface of the arrow they placed a few gray
stickers, without leaving behind its outline. The reaction of the unmanned
system turned out to be the same as it should be on the "Stop" sign.
With such very simple methods, researchers have
demonstrated how dangerous the autonomous management system can be and how
vulnerable it can become in case of an elementary spoilage of a sign due to
weather conditions or from the hands of street hooligans.
And it should be noted that the autopilot did not
participate in the tests of any particular brand, but a typical algorithm for
working for such systems.
Photo: Car and Driver