Introduction
Windows down, music on, cruising carefree; a road with no risk. But wait, it gets better – your hands are free to do what you please, your eyes don’t have to remain on the road, and get this; you can even finish that long-awaited crossword puzzle. It sounds like something straight out of The Incredibles, pleasant to think about nevertheless just make-believe at the end of the day. But, what if I told you that autonomous vehicles are a soon to be reality? You might want to buckle up because this is going to be a fuel efficient, time saving, and safe ride!
Background
Self driving cars have been talked about for generations, but the chance that they would become a reality has always been a farfetched dream. That is, until now. Thanks
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The hopeful thing about Google’s autonomous vehicles is that the technology they’re incorporating into the car is already being used on the road as well as other products. This provides reassurance for consumers since all of the hardware has already been tested and proven to be safe for use. (Clark, 2015) Three of the main technologies that will be used in autonomous vehicles are LIDAR, RADAR, and high powered cameras. Laser Illuminating Detection and Ranging, otherwise known as LIDAR, is used to build a 3D map, and allow the vehicle to see objects on the road. This way the car knows which way to move and when to halt to avoid collisions. This computer-generated 3D map is created by scanning a laser beam on all surrounding surfaces which then in turn calculates the distance and shape of that object. Bryan Clark informs readers that “the Google Car uses a Velodyn 64-beam laser in order to give the on-board processor a 360 view by mounting the LIDAR unit to the top of the car and allowing it to rotate on a custom-built base.” (Clark, 2015) Although the …show more content…
We as consumers have yet to be informed on how insurance will work, what laws will prevent abuse of the technology, and to be quite frank; how will we afford such high-tech vehicles. The most obvious answer in regards of liability is that it should be mainly, if not entirely on the manufacturer of the car. After all, seeing as they are the ones who are ultimately responsible for creating a reliable product, it only makes sense. (Hevelke & Nida-rumelin, 2015) Many car companies are in a flurry trying to increase their car sales by loading up with tons of electronic features and then proceeding to hike up the price. It sounds like a sweet deal when you hear about all the savvy technology, but, when the hardware malfunctions it takes quite a toll on your wallet. If you pair that with the already estimated high price of a self-driving car, the investment seems equivalent to digging your own grave – at least for everyone that isn’t a part of the upper class. Nader informed The Washington Times that “the needs of millions of low income workers must be accounted for”. (Nelson, 2017) Not everyone is looking for a posh vehicle that simultaneously breaks their bank account. If anything, most people just want a low maintenance, economical vehicle that gets them from point A to point B in one piece. Lastly we come to ethics on the road. When driving in the real world, drivers are faced with
These self-driving cars work by including various sensors and cameras built into the chassis of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a Global Positioning Unit (GPS), an Internal Navigation System and a laser rangefinder. A laser rangefinder is the spinning part on the top of most self driving cars that tells the car how far away something is to the car. Laser rangefinders emits laser beams that then bounces off objects.
Self-driving cars are now hitting a few roadways in America, and are showing people just a small glimpse into what could be the future of automobiles. Although Google’s self-driving cars are getting a lot of attention now, the idea of a self-driving car has been around for quite a while actually. These cars have been tested to their limits, but the American people have yet to adopt the technology into their everyday lives. A brief description of their history, how they work, and finally answer the question, will self-driving cars ever be adopted widely by the American public?
Companies like Google, Tesla and Nissan, among others, have announced over the past few years that their companies are trying to develop self-driving or autonomous cars [Ref. 1 and 2]. Self-driving cars can provide many benefits to the average consumer. Studies have shown that because computers can react and process information many times faster than a human being, crashes on streets and roads can be decreased with quick and consistent evasion maneuvers by the autonomous car. They can also help maximize fuel economy by calculating the most direct and fastest routes. When the driving of an autonomous car demonstrates that the computer can safely and reliably transport the passengers to their destination, this frees up the passengers to do other things that they would not normally be able to do if they were driving the car manually. For this reason, self-driving cars can help maximize productivity of their passengers.
While there have been surveys to understand how people feel about self-driving vehicles, they only surveyed a little over a thousand, which isn’t comparable to the millions of people who actually drive cars (Degroat). Many, more than 70 percent, do believe that autonomic vehicles will reduce accidents, the severity of the crash, and help the fuel economy, nearly as many are concerned about the way the car will perform under unusual or unexpected circumstances, as compared to the way a human could react and perform, along with if the vehicle would have any system malfunctions (Degroat). Even though the car companies are working on the technology to make the cars safe and dependable, it would be easy for someone to “hack” into the vehicle to steal it, or take personal information from the vehicle like where they have been and where they plan to go (Degroat). Many also wonder how well the car will do under different climate and driving circumstances; will the car’s mechanics and equipment work well in a tropical or artic like environment, or how will it interact in New York City as opposed to a very rural and rugged environment like a farm. With the sensors and cameras attached to the car, will it be able to tell the difference and respond differently among other vehicles, pedestrians, and non-motored objects on the
The term autonomous refers to the capability of acting independently, or having the freedom to do so. A self-driving car is an autonomous car, which has the ability to sense its environment and navigating without any human operations. These types of cars are built to make safe and smart decisions on the road. In the past years, automobile companies have begun to introduce advanced driver assistance systems that are capable of parking, switching lanes, and braking in case of an emergency on their own, without the driver’s assistance. Automated vehicles are capable of maneuvering through street traffic, as well as other natural and man-made obstacles along the way. Therefore, this technology might completely change the methods of transportation.
In 2010, Google broadcasted that they created an archetype of a car that can drive itself; its purpose, to avert collisions, allow citizens more time, and cut down on harmful pollutants that vehicles produce (Poczter & Jankovic, 2014). The heart of the self-driving automobile is lasers that are mounted on the roof of a modified Toyota Prius that produces a precise three-dimensional atlas of the area surrounding the car. Furthermore, the automobile is outfitted with four radars, and another laser around the vehicle that allows it to precisely create a 3-D map of its surroundings (Poczter & Jankovic, 2014). The vehicle calculates the laser dimensions with high-resolution maps of the globe, which allows it to drive itself without human intervention, while evading obstacles and obeying traffic laws (How Google’s self-Driving Car Works, 2011).
The driverless cars work all by today’s technology the google car for example needs a (LIDAR) a lidar is used to build a 3D map and it allows the car to see potential hazards or objects by bouncing a laser beam off surfaces surrounding the vehicle to accurately determine the distance of that object. A (RADAR) the radar is hidden in the front bumper with two sensors there and two sensors in the rear this allows the car to avoid impact by sending a warning to the person on board to apply the brakes or to move out of the way when appropriate. (HIGH POWERED CAMERAS) the cameras are mounted to the exterior of the vehicle with a slight separation. This gives the viewer an overlapping view of the cars surroundings and it also looks at the depth and filed of objects around it. Each camera has a 50-degree view and it is accurate to around about 30 meters, which helps in many ways. (SONAR) the sonar is another camera but with a narrow field of view and its range is a lot shorter this camera only goes to about 6 meters. However, it provides
Many Americans can barely afford a basic car or even food. So, how are they supposed to be able to buy a self-driving car. The article “Top 20 pros and Cons Associated with Self-Driving Cars” states, “the engineering, power and computer requirements, software,and sensors add up to more than $100,000.” (AutoInsurance.com) One hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money that less fortunate people should spend on necessities. Such as
People around the world are constantly moving from place to place. Whether that place is work, a restaurant, or home, people require a means of transportation in order to arrive at a desired destination safely and efficiently. One of the most used means of transportation today are cars. Cars play an important role in the world’s economy by transporting goods and people. Automobiles have come a long way since Ford’s first Model T, and the auto industry plans to further enhance the technology and capabilities of the cars that drive on our roads. New technological advancements like rear-view camera, self parking, and auto braking have greatly improved the overall safety of cars today. However, one of the most talked about ideas are autonomous
Self-driving cars are the wave of the future. There is much debate regarding the impact a self-driving car will have on our society and economy. Some experts believe fully autonomous vehicles will be on the road in the next 5-10 years (Anderson). This means a vehicle will be able to drive on the road without a driver or any passengers. Like any groundbreaking technology, there is a fear of the unforeseen problems. Therefore, there will need to be extensive testing before anyone can feel safe with a vehicle of this style on the road. It will also take time for this type of technology to become financially accessible to the masses, but again alike any technology with time it should be possible. Once the safety concern has been fully addressed
Automotive executives touting self-driving cars as a way to make commuting more productive or relaxing may want to consider another potential marketing pitch: safety (Hirschauge, 2016). The biggest reason why these cars will make a safer world is that accident rates will enormously drop. There is a lot of bad behavior a driver exhibit behind the wheel, and a computer is actually an ideal motorist. Since 81 percent of car crashes are the result of human error, computers would take a lot of danger out of the equation entirely. Also, some of the major causes of accidents are drivers who become ill at the time of driving. Some of the examples of this would be a seizure, heart attack, diabetic reactions, fainting, and high or low blood pressure. Autonomous cars will surely remedy these types of occurrences making us
They once seemed preposterous, the things of science fiction movies and comic books detailing a utopian society of some sort. Yet here they are, on the streets, their existance no longer a distant fantasy but a very real issue in the world today. Self-driving cars are finally a reality. With this reality, however, comes questions.
With the new technology for these cars you won’t need insurance. It cost a lot to not only buy a car but also for insurance, but with self driving cars you won’t need insurance. The article states, “A good insurance plan could might pay for all the damage caused by an accident, but it could also cost hundreds of dollars.” Some say that that sense the car is run by a computer that it might glitch bc as we all know computers glitch. They say that when that happens we don’t know who to blame for the accident.
Urmson explains about Google’s technology involved in keeping people safe in and outside of the self-driving cars. Urmson talks about how the Google car is just one of several efforts to remove humans from the driver's seat. Urmson talks about where his program for the self-driving car is right now and shares fascinating footage that shows how the car sees the road and makes free decisions about what to do next. The Ted talk explains how a self-driving car is going to manual or human-driven cars are so dangerous. The video also explains why we need to put more research into the cars for them to be able to save lives and why we need to save time that which would usually squander away in traffic in the United States of America.
Armaan Malhi Mr. Mcknight H english 34 07 October 2015 The Clerk’s Tale SUMMARY OF THE CLERK The clerk, or Oxford cleric, was a student of philosophy but is now a clerk. The clerk enjoys learning more than anything in the world, all the money he has and the money that is given to him by his friends is used to buy books about philosophy, usually the books are works of Aristotle. The Clerk is a young man who recently got out of college, and he is very thin because instead of buying food with his money he buys books.