Self-driving cars are touted as the future of transportation, with major players like Waymo, Cruise, and various car manufacturers investing billions into hands-free personal transportation. While the concept of autonomous vehicles may seem like a recent innovation, it actually dates back to the 1950s. 

In this blog, we’ll talk about the fascinating history of self-driving cars and explore the crucial role that magnets played in shaping the early development of autonomous vehicle technology.

1990s Government-backed Initiative

In the early 1990s, the U.S. Congress passed the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, a significant $155 billion initiative aimed at funding highways, transportation safety, and mass transit through 1997. A lesser-known provision to this act mandated the development of an automated highway and vehicle prototype to combat the growing issue of surface transport traffic congestion. 

The National Automated Highway System Consortium

To fulfill this ambitious goal, the National Automated Highway System Consortium (NAHSC) was formed in 1994. The consortium comprised nine different entities, including Bechtel, the California Department of Transportation, Carnegie Mellon, General Motors, Lockheed Martin, Parsons Brinckerhoff, and UC Berkeley’s California Partners for Advanced Transportation Technology program. Their mission was to create a demonstrative prototype of an Automated Highway System, paving the way for hands-off, feet-off driving. 

The Crucial Role of Magnets

One of the most interesting aspects of this early self-driving technology was the use of magnets. UC Berkeley’s team, in partnership with General Motors, Delco, and Hughes, equipped eight Buick LeSabres with a unique sensing platform. Instead of relying on cameras and lasers, they used radar units and magnetometers to guide the vehicles. 

 

But how did these magnetometers work? The stretch of roadway chosen for testing underwent significant changes, including the installation of 92,778 guidance buried under the pavement. These magnets enabled the vehicles to sense their position on the road. General Motors was so confident in this magnet-tracking technology that they even considered implementing it in their futuristic Buick XP2000 concept for potential self-driving applications.

Toyota’s Approach

Toyota also joined the autonomous vehicle party with a combination of magnetic sensors, onboard road mapping to store known road geometry, and optical sensors for guidance. This technology served as the foundation for Toyota’s Intelligent Transportation System, which was introduced nearly two decades later.

Successful Testing 

The actual testing began in August 1997, with over 20 vehicles participating. Surprisingly, these vehicles operated flawlessly along their respective segments of roadway, despite the rudimentary technology in use at the time.

The Legacy of the NAHSC and Magnet-based Technology

The National Automated Highway System Consortium may no longer exist, but the technology it helped foster during its short-lived existence continues to influence modern self-driving technology. Today’s autonomous vehicles rely on advanced sensors like lidar and high-definition radar, yet magnets played a crucial role in the early development of self-driving concepts. 

 

The history of self-driving cars is a testament to human ingenuity and technological innovation. The early pioneers in autonomous vehicle development, including the National Automated Highway System Consortium, used magnet-based technology to make significant strides in the pursuit of autonomous vehicles. While modern self-driving technology has evolved, we owe a debt of gratitude to the magnets and magnetometers that helped pave the way.

Apex Magnets

At Apex Magnets, we love learning about the fascinating history of magnets. Even more so, we appreciate current innovation, whether that is with our product or magnet technology in general. If you want to discuss which of our Apex products could be best suited for your particular business needs, talk to one of our specialists at 1-304-257-1193.