Self-driving cars is yet another step in automating processes and reducing risks attributed to human mistakes. From the basic perspective, a robot that is to drive the vehicle for you is going to have an advantage over a person if it uses all its sensors and GPS syst em. But the question is whether computers are sophisticated enough to do all the calculations and weigh choices that involve safety accurately? It turns out they can.
The first cars operated by robots are already out in Pittsburgh. The grandiose project by Uber to add self-driving cars (modified Volvo XC90c) to their taxi fleet came alive this month (Max Chafkin). As an another example of successful implementation of the technology, there is Tesla Model S, which with the last update has the function of auto-pilot. This is not exactly a self-driving car, but it is an attempt to redivide the control over the car between the computerized system and the driver. Given that the change has already started to happen, we are going to see all other automobile and electronics companies present their own interpretations of what self-driving car should look like in the nearest future.
The market for self-driving cars is an entirely new market and area of research. It is hard to overestimate the impact self-driving cars may have on our daily lives. It is not only a birth of the whole new industry that we observe right now but a drastic shift in public understanding of the capability of technological progress and robotics. It is precisely at this point we should ask ourselves important questions that should shape our opinion on the topic, and a list of such questions should include:
- How are self-driving cars going to be regulated? Is it state-wide or federal legislation that should apply to self-driving cars?
- To what extent should we give the computer control over the car driving process? Should it be in the form of auto-pilot (like in Tesla Model S) or eliminating human operator and robotizing the process?
- What measures of safety should apply to the self-driving cars? What tests should the robotic systems go through to be certified?
- How much more efficient the self-driving cars will be in terms of pollutions rate? If it takes up more resources to produce the computerized system and, after all, it takes longer (“safer”) roots, then is this a “good” change or “bad” change?
After the initial excitement calms down, what we are going to be left with is the new legislation milestone. We should follow the news and see how the issue unfolds.
Sources:
@teslamotors. “Model S Software Version 7.0.” Model S Autopilot Press Kit. Tesla, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.
Chafkin, Max. “Uber’s First Self-Driving Fleet Arrives in Pittsburgh This Month.” Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, 18 Aug. 2016. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.