Differentiate between Connected vehicles and Autonomous Vehicles.

Connected vehicles and autonomous vehicles represent two distinct but interconnected concepts in the realm of intelligent transportation systems.

Connected Vehicles:
Connected vehicles are equipped with communication technologies that allow them to exchange data with other vehicles, infrastructure, and external systems. These vehicles utilize vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication to enhance safety, efficiency, and convenience on the road. Connected vehicles can receive real-time traffic information, communicate with roadside infrastructure such as traffic lights, and interact with other vehicles to enable features such as collision avoidance and cooperative adaptive cruise control. The primary focus of connected vehicles is on connectivity and communication to improve overall transportation systems.

Autonomous Vehicles:
Autonomous vehicles, also known as self-driving or driverless vehicles, are capable of operating without human intervention under certain conditions. These vehicles utilize a combination of sensors, cameras, radar, lidar, and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to perceive their surroundings, make driving decisions, and navigate safely from point A to point B. Autonomous vehicles can operate in varying levels of autonomy, ranging from driver assistance systems (e.g., adaptive cruise control) to fully autonomous operation where no human intervention is required. The primary focus of autonomous vehicles is on automation and autonomy, aiming to replace or supplement human drivers with automated driving systems.

In summary, connected vehicles focus on communication and connectivity between vehicles, infrastructure, and external systems to enhance safety and efficiency, while autonomous vehicles focus on automation and autonomy to enable vehicles to operate without human intervention under certain conditions. While these concepts are distinct, they often intersect and complement each other in the development of intelligent transportation systems.