Driverless Cars: The First One Has Arrived and is on the Road

"Driverless cars are safer and they are the future," declares Mr. Alberto Broggi who is, at present, a passenger of an actual car capable of driving itself. He is taking a long ride in the vehicle in order to thoroughly test it on the highways, in the country, in the city, in areas where pedestrians stroll, in all kinds of weather and on every type of terrain. He says that the automobile is performing very well and that when he stood in front of it to see if he would be run over, the car swerved to avoid him. This, however, is not the end of the story and things might not be under as much control as they appear--even according to the Mr. Broggi who probably has more faith than anyone else in driverless cars at this moment.

Dangerous Technology or Welcomed Life Savers?

Some are calling driverless cars dangerous modern technology while others welcome them as possible life savers that will prevent many fatal automobile accidents. A better understanding of the technology "behind" or that has given rise to driverless cars might help those who are still undecided determine whether they will reject or embrace autonomous robot vehicles.

Mr. Broggi reminds us of the existence of computer software for driver assistance in the event the driver falls asleep. We can also think of the technologies that have made automatic pilot operations a reality on airplanes, and what about the unmanned outer space crafts that explore the "final frontier?" Why can't these technologies serve as the foundation on which better technologies allowing for driverless cars can be developed? Perhaps they can and perhaps they can't. One important problem that exists with driverless cars is the amount of traffic the vehicles with which autonomous robot vehicles will have to deal and the presence of pedestrians--two factors that don't exist in out space exploration missions or even in travel by airplane where there are no pedestrians.

Promoters of this potentially dangerous technology admit that the development of computer software for future computerized cars is extremely complicated and perhaps impossible to design to perfection. Bugs in software to do word processing aren't dangerous; bugs in software to control driverless cars--well, the danger goes without saying. This type of software must be able to recognize pedestrians without ever making the slightest error. What software can be expected to be that efficient? Even if the software for these driverless cars allow them to recognize people of different height, weight, and shapes, will it always recognize a pedestrian in a wheelchair? What if the pedestrian walks with a cane and the car mistakes the cane for a third leg? What if a toddler happens to crawl out into the streets and, crawling instead of walking prevents the child from being recognized as a "passenger?" How will autonomous robot vehicles view children dressed in all types of costumes as they go trick or treating?

It's said that driverless cars will be perfected by the highly sophisticated sensors in them that detect whether a vehicle or a pedestrian is ahead; but, what will someone on a bicycle, motorcycle, unicycle (some people do ride them), skateboard or skates look like? If a child in a toy car rides out into the streets, is he or she a pedestrian or a vehicle to these autonomous robot vehicles? These are just a few of the questions I had as I read the article.

Mr. Broggi admitted to what I call a serious flaw in the world's first driverless cars actually put on the road. As the vehicle entered the city of Moscow, drivers were not exactly obeying the street markings that define lanes--only two were marked; but, the people drove in three and four lanes which confused the car's "brain." If one of these driverless cars hits and kills someone whether in another vehicle or a pedestrian, how will the law view such an act? You cannot charge a car with vehicular manslaughter. Many deaths occur due to fatal and often avoidable automobile accidents as people, despite incessant warnings, continue to drive recklessly, while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, when sleepy, while talking on their cell phones, during distraction by a child, and while following a GPS system. Nevertheless, many serious automobile accidents are avoided thanks to skilled and prudent drivers who watch not only for themselves but also for others. Will driverless cars even be able to reliably watch for themselves?

Source:

Alison George
Robot Car Passenger: On the Road to China, no Driver
NewScientist.com