Dan Brown

MIT 6.S094: Introduction to Deep Learning and Self-Driving Cars

Lex Friedman, Dan Brown, William Angio, Spencer Dodd, Benedict Jenick, Andrej Karpathy, Hans Moraveck

MIT Course 6S094, led by Lex Friedman, utilizes self-driving cars as a case study to teach deep learning through two simulation projects: the reinforcement learning game Deep Traffic and the image-based control system Deep Tesla. The curriculum contrasts standard supervised learning with complex real-world challenges such as adversarial attacks and data inefficiency, requiring students to train neural networks to drive virtual vehicles at speeds exceeding 65 mph for credit. By analyzing the architectural modules of autonomy and historical milestones like the DARPA Grand Challenge, the course bridges theoretical computer science with the practical safety constraints of deploying artificial intelligence in unstructured environments.