If you didn’t already know – Google has been testing driverless cars for a minute. In fact – Nevada is now licensing driverless cars; you can see video of Google’s testing HERE. Innovations are happening right around the corner as drivers will be able to selectively drive in “adaptive” cruise control mode on some models as soon as NEXT YEAR. We’ve all seen the commercials where cars can park themselves … it’s getting real out there.
And this is going to save untold number of lives. It is going to be huge. But in order to do this – there is going to need to be some serious development of infrastructure. That means government investment in new technology for 21st century roads. We can do it if we have the political will to do it.
The Economist says some of the functionality for driverless cars is coming sooner than you think HERE:
Since the late 1990s some cars have had the option of “adaptive” cruise control that uses a radar system to monitor the position of the car in front, and accelerates or brakes automatically. General Motors, America’s biggest carmaker, is designing a “super cruise” option that steers automatically in slow traffic, following lane markers and avoiding other vehicles, says Jeremy Salinger of GM, who heads the team developing the technology. Ford, America’s second-largest carmaker, is developing something similar called Traffic Jam Assist. BMW plans to launch a compact electric car, the i3, that can do this trick next year. It will cost less than €40,000 ($50,000), says Ralph Huber of BMW.
The addition of autonomous control need not add much to the cost. An extra $3,000 or so should cover it, Mr Coelingh believes. And there is evidence that drivers are prepared to pay for add-ons that improve safety as well as convenience. Volvo already sells a popular driver-assistance option called City Safety for around $2,000, for example. It slams on the brakes if a distance-measuring laser or camera detects a vehicle or pedestrian in the car’s path.
