National Cheng Kung University’s (NCKU) visual perception algorithm for self-driving vehicles won the top spot in a global pattern recognition technology contest. Visual recognition algorithms are a key component of self-driving vehicle technology, which is transforming transportation and the auto industry worldwide. A limiting factor of the current generation of visual perception algorithms is that they were generally designed for use in structured urban environments, making them less capable in a rural setting. Leading a team of four students, NCKU statistics professor Chih-chung Hsu (許志仲) developed a new visual perception technology capable of accurate recognition in an irregular visual environment.