Are Autonomous Cars Just Around The Corner?

There are an estimated 30,000 automotive-related deaths a year, of which 90% happen because of human error. So when Google released their self-driving car, it caused quite a stir of excitement about its possibilities. But how viable are these ideas and how close are they to becoming a reality?

Google-powered self-driving car

The Google car is based around three main principles; autonomy, efficiency and safety. It relies on GPS, 3-D laser mapping and radar to analyse and interpret their surroundings. This allows the vehicle to maneuver around objects, such as cyclists.

The main aim of the vehicle is to “remove human error from a job which, for the past hundred years, has been entirely human”. Steering-wheel free along with no gas pedal, brake pedal or glove box, the autonomous car simply has just a stop and start button.

With a top speed of just 25 miles per hour, this new invention, although a stress-free experience for the driver, may cause somewhat of an annoyance to other drivers on the road.

How has it been received?

Following its launch, the public have received it with mixed opinions. Some people are amazed and feel it is the best invention yet, whilst other are not as convinced and would go as far to say it was doomed.

However, at this stage, the car was only ever built for research purposes. Only 100 cars have been made in order to collect as much data from the mileage driven. In light of this, should the day come that the self-drive car is officially launched, things will be different from the prototype we see now, such as the aesthetics.

The design

They may look like funny, marshmallow bumper cars, but their design has been cleverly and carefully planned. Psychological studies have shown that if an object resembles a face then people are far less likely to want to hurt it, as their morals kick into place and instinct tells them not to. Therefore, the Google self-driving car’s front has deliberately been designed to resemble a face in order to “spiritually disarm other drivers”.

Mistakes are good

As this is just the first version of a model which will be developed and changed, there are many mistakes and mishaps occurring during the tests and trials but this is a good thing!

In each instance that the human driver needs to take over and intervene, the Google X team will try to improve the artificial intelligence so it can be a better driver, until the point where there is no longer a need for human intervention at all.

At the moment, the car cannot deal with any complex road situations, such as roadworks. It also cannot drive in certain weathers like heavy rain and snow, but with enough research and data, hopefully these obstacles can be overcome.

Looking forwards

The ultimate aim is to make our most common form of transportation better in every way, but looking at the concept of a self-drive car as a whole, it is clear that it can help make our lives better in many ways. For example, there are clear benefits for the disabled and elderly who can get back some of their independence with the help of an autonomous car.

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