Look, no hands: Google's Self-Driving Car by Erica Nanone
Purpose
The primary purpose for sharing this news report is to facilitate a discussion on the ethical and environmental views of Google's Self-Driving Car. Would you want to use this car?
Discussion questions
1. What are some ethical considerations involved? Can a robot make these decisions? Would you want a robot to make these decisions for you?
2. What do you think would be the positive and negative effects on the environment? Do you agree with Simon Sturdee's statement that the car's developers believe "...the technology will sharply reduce the number of cars on the road because people will no longer need their own vehicle as much, using instead driverless car pooled in car-share schemes."
3. Would you choose to have this car over a standard manual/automatic car given the opportunity? Why/Why not?
4. If you know someone who cannot drive (for example a younger sibling, or someone physically disabled) would you want them to have this car?
Follow-up Research
- In 2005 Sebasitan Thrun, Director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Google Engineer and co-founder of Google Street View led a team of Stanford students and faculty designing the Stanley Robot. See Darpa Grand Challenge Preview: 132 miles driven autonomously in the desert.
- By October 2010 7 test cars had been developed and reported to have driven 1,000 miles autonomously without intervention and 140, 000 miles with the occasional human control. See New York Times Article.
- Raul Rojas, professor at Berlin's Free University (FU) predicts that "in the future it will be forbidden for people to drive cars for safety reasons." See AFP Article.
- The car uses a LIDAR laser which detects UV, visible and infrared light to map physical features, Radar which uses radio waves to detect objects, position sensors which detect movement, GPS, an onboard computer and video camera. See Technology Review.
- Snow-covered roads and difficult terrain needs to be mastered, and alternative cars need to be considered. See Google Official Blog.
- Driverless cars would mitigate driver-induced congestion (see Shockwave Traffic Jams) resulting in wasted fuel and air pollution if high enough market penetration rates. See OpenMarket.org.
- To prevent a flood of digital info from becoming a deadly distraction to drivers, auto makers are rethinking the way cars communicate with drivers.
- Audi revealed an augmented-reality system projects info about the terrain (points of interest, names of buildings) onto the windshield, overlaying it on the scenery ahead.
- Tactile feedback is used too! 2013 Cadillac XTS sedan uses vibrating motors in the seats to warn drivers of dangers like cars moving via blind spot!
- A European Union research project called SARTRE tested first real-world road train. Convoy of cars autonomously following a human operated lead vehicle driven by a pro. The trailing cars might be on a long journey. By reducing wind resistance & traveling at a steady speed convoys could improve fuel economy & reduce tailpipe emission by 20%. They could also make trips more pleasant. “Relax & read a book”
- Other cars could jump in and join convoy-
- How then would cars signal that they want to join the convoy?
- How many cars should be allowed in the convoy?
- Should a convoy be allowed to pass other cars?
Car to Car communication “Road Train”
Drivers of progress: five technologies that will shape the cars of the future
Popular Science 2012 / Science in Context- Gale Group
Audio Report on KQED Quest on Aug 24, 2012 by Lauren Sommer
Video by Google: Self Driving Car Test by Steve Mahan
Original Technology Review: Look, no hands: Google's Self-Driving Car by Erica Nanone
