Gao Tianlai, a mapping surveyor at an unmanned vehicles company in Hefei City, east of the Chinese mainland, plays a crucial role in collecting detailed map information to ensure the smooth operation of driverless vehicles.
\"The maps used by driverless vehicles are more precise than the navigation maps ordinary people use when driving,\" said Gao. His work involves creating high-precision maps that are essential for the accuracy and safety of autonomous vehicles.
Gao explained, \"The navigation maps we usually use for driving are accurate to the lane level or the meter level and can meet drivers' needs.\" However, for driverless vehicles, \"a high-precision map needs to be accurate to the centimeter level and contain a lot of elements, such as flower beds, lane marks, railings, and signs.\"
\"The deviation must be within five centimeters,\" added Gao, who was born in the 1990s. \"If there are errors in the collection or production of high-precision maps, or if the errors are very large, unmanned vehicles may cross the solid lines, scratch nearby vehicles, or even threaten the safety of pedestrians on zebra crossings.\"
\"So, the job of a map surveyor is not just a part of making the high-precision map, but the most basic and key part,\" Gao emphasized.
Reference(s):
Young Chinese become surveyors, help boost unmanned driving sector
cgtn.com
