Self driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles, use complex mechanical and electronic systems to operate on their own without the assistance of a human driver. Although research into such technology is new (the DARPA Grand Challenges in the early 2000s were among the first major steps towards self-driving car technology), self-driving cars can potentially revolutionize mass transportation and make roads generally safer for both vehicle occupants and pedestrians alike.
Although the concept of a “driverless” or autonomous vehicle has been around since at least the 1920s, it was not until recently that we could implement these ideas safely and feasibly. Technology advances such as higher quality GPS units, more powerful computer processors, radar detection systems, and other technologies have made it possible for us to build cars that can drive themselves safely and effectively.
To date, over one million miles of public road testing have been performed by the Google self-driving car team, with 1.2 million more planned before the end of 2014. The rate at which these vehicles are becoming a reality is astonishing, as just last year Audi reported that they would be releasing their autonomous driving technology within three years. Mercedes reports that they will be selling semi-autonomous vehicles by 2016 (although regulations may delay widespread availability until 2020) using a system based on an improved version of adaptive cruise control. Although this technology is largely available in the form of “traffic assistants” today (used to maintain safe distances between automobiles), they are not yet considered to be “fully functioning” self-driving cars.
The future of self-driving cars is still uncertain and up for debate, but the technologies we have today hold a lot of promise and potential. We may see major car manufacturers offering reasonably affordable fully autonomous options on their most popular models within just a few years. Although there would likely need to be some sort of override system in place (such as an emergency shut-off switch or human override mode), these systems could potentially save thousands of lives each year. Similar technology has already been used in airplanes for decades, so it seems only natural that this sort of mechanism is adapted to automobiles as well.
A major hurdle in the widespread availability of self-driving cars is government regulation, which will likely take years to finalize. No matter how effective or safe self-driving technologies are, there will always be fear that these systems may fail (intentionally or otherwise) and cause harm to the public. A recent survey showed that 73% of people would not ride in one of these vehicles even if they were told it had an “override system” that could take control of the vehicle if necessary. However, as we have mentioned before on our blog, this technology has already been implemented into airplanes where accidents are much less common than other forms of transit such as railroads or automobiles. In addition to a lack of trust from the general public, we will likely need substantial changes to our existing infrastructure before implementing autonomous cars.
In addition to just driving, self-driving cars would also free up valuable time for people traveling. In a car that is driving you from point A to point B with no input from yourself, you could use that time however you want: reading a book or watching a movie on your laptop are just two examples of how drivers could utilize their downtime in a vehicle without a human driver. This technology can bring many new benefits and conveniences for consumers around the world, but it will certainly affect both the trucking and travel industries.
This new technology may also affect industries such as insurance, but it is too early to tell exactly how this will play out.
This technology can bring many benefits for drivers all over the world, but whether or not these benefits outweigh safety concerns remains an untested question. These questions are being debated throughout the global community, with some countries already beginning to implement laws addressing autonomous vehicle usage. It may be some time before these vehicles become widely available for purchase by consumers worldwide, but they have certainly taken one step closer towards reality today than yesterday.
The future of self-driving cars is uncertain at this point, but there are reasons to believe that we could have very different kinds of cars on the market within just a few years.
Self-driving cars are currently being tested and implemented across the world. However, many people remain skeptical about their safety due to a lack of knowledge about working. The future of self-driving cars is still unclear, but it can have a major impact on society as a whole.
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