Self driving vehicles will be a reality in about ten years, when researchers and engineers figure out the problems with current autonomous car technology. Until then, we will have to rely on a backup driver. Some people are against this because of the safety risks involved. They fear that if things go wrong with the autonomous car, that we will be putting everyone in danger. However, in the hands of a well trained driver, these risks can be greatly reduced. So even if there is a risk in which we might put someone in danger, it is better to have them in the first place, rather than having to do it later.

The first problem with current autonomous car technology is the issue of making sure the car always leaves the area you have pointed to it. If you're in a rural setting and you need to get to your destination, it can sometimes be hard to tell whether or not the vehicle will arrive at your location. In fact, many vehicles are not fully equipped to deal with such a situation. They may fail to arrive on time, or they may stop unexpectedly. This means that you will have to trust your GPS system, which is itself a risky situation.

This poses two big questions for the future of autonomous car technology. One is whether or not we will ever be able to completely remove the human drivers from the loop; the other is whether or not vehicles will be safe enough on their own to stay away from bad and dangerous situations. It also poses significant legal and ethical questions. Is self-driving cars legal in your region?

A recent development by a major car maker brings a huge step forward toward answering those questions. In fact, it completely takes the guesswork out of autonomous vehicle operation. BMW's new i-drive platform allows you to program your BMW i-Pod ahead of time to play certain songs. When you are on the freeway, you can have the music play and feel completely comfortable as you cruise along at a rate of speed that is sure to keep the adrenaline flowing. You never have to get stuck in rush hour traffic again.

As you know, automation technology has gone far beyond simply diagnosing your car's faults and reporting them to you. It is now possible to steer your car into a safe lane or turn off its lights when it is safe to do so. This is just the beginning. The future of autonomous vehicles holds many exciting possibilities, though there is one major thing holding back progress. Self-driving cars will need to be programmed not only to perform a variety of basic functions, but to do so in a manner that is highly ethical and safe. If an autonomous car can't distinguish between the lives of pedestrians on the road and its own, it is not much of a car in the first place.

That is why the developers of self-driving cars are making every effort to develop software that is capable of avoiding any potential crashes. Current vehicles can be equipped with systems that will avoid collisions if the vehicle in front of it has a defect. Future vehicles may also have anti-theft features, which alert the driver of potential danger before it becomes a crash. All these technologies and more are still being developed, but there is no telling when they will be ready for the consumer market. That is why we should all stay patient. There is plenty of time to come.

Posted by: bonjie kitama at 04:25 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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