This final paper aims to describe the technologies of autonomous driving including its functioning, components, the role of the driver, as well as an overview of the opportunities and challenges associated with the autonomous vehicles. Initially, the history, development, and origin of the autonomous vehicle are outlined, so are the initial concepts behind such a vehicle. Definition of the term autonomous vehicle follows along with the explanation of the present levels of automation. Special attention is given to the embedded smart systems and devices, that enable the vehicle to move independently along the forecasted route, respecting all driving rules. Legal regulations and laws related to autonomous driving are discussed, as this industry is relatively new and subject to constant changes in the law. Communication systems are an essential part of this topic because the vehicle communicates with the environment (pedestrians, infrastructure, vehicles), therefore they are an integral part of the road safety. The conclusion is that the entire automotive industry will, over the years, turn more and more towards developing autonomous vehicles, and companies such as Google and Amazon are already investing in fully autonomous robotaxis Waymo and Zoox.