Autonomous vehicles

When you think about an autonomous car what do you picture in your mind? Something like the Jetsons or KITT form Knight Rider.  When we talk to our friends and co-workers about autonomous cars – the conversation gets heated. Some against it, are for it, some think they will never see it happen. What does autonomous really mean? Automated? Self-driving? Handsfree? Does it pick up your Starbucks before you?

Well we know autonomous cars  are vehicles that are capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input. And I believe the number one selling point for an autonomous car is the safety factors. But I’m still not sold that in my near life time (2020/2025) there will be 100% autonomous communities. We have different ideas of what to expect out of autonomous and transportation. My vision is more like the Jetsons. Flies through the air and is quick.

Are you thinking about how an autonomous car would affect your life?

Changes to our neighborhoods:

• What happens to our garage attached to our house? Parking structures and handicap parking spaces?
• Are they fuel efficient & environmentally friendly?
• Do they just appear and dis-appear as needed?
• Does it eliminate Valet parking?
• Are they self charging?
• Truck drivers?

Vehicle Ownership

• Does everyone car-share?
• Can an average individual afford their own autonomous vehicle?
• Will there be as much as an emphases on customization of  vehicles?
• Will it create value in the collector cars – ie ’66 vet?

Respondents to an independent survey were found to be most concerned about software hacking/misuse, and were also concerned about legal issues and safety.

Sensors and data will play a part in the infrastructure designed for autonomous cars. 2012, Computer scientists at the University of Texas in Austin began developing smart intersections designed for autonomous cars. The intersections will have no traffic lights and no stop signs, instead using computer programs that will communicate directly with each car on the road.

But even after all the technology is built, we have rules that conflicts with innovation. The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic This international treaty, designed to facilitate international road traffic and increase road safety, was agreed upon at the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s Conference on Road Traffic in 1968 and came into force on May 21, 1977 (http://www.unece.org/trans/conventn/ crt1968e.pdf). The convention states that “Every driver shall at all times be able to control his vehicle,” which conflicts somewhat with the automatic control concept. Systems such as antilock braking systems or electronic stability programs are acceptable because they do not take full control of the vehicle but rather help the driver to follow a desired path, possibly in situations where control of the vehicle has already been lost. Wider use of technological advances, however, will require amendment of the convention.