According to auto industry technologists, self-driving cars will be coming to mass production soon, but the real question is, “how soon?” A recent debate at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress suggested that the minimum estimate for a fully autonomous vehicle would be in 10 to 15 years; however, features such as adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assist are already being implemented, which will prepare drivers for a future where they are needed less. Cadillac is one of the brands that is leading the way in the race to develop fully autonomous vehicles. They have already created and tested the ‘Super Cruise’, their first semi-automated car that uses radar, GPS map data, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors to do the majority of the heavy-lifting work for the driver.
Source:
http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2013/04/29/self-driving-cars-by-2020-sort-of-cadillac-says/?mod=WSJBlog&mod=WSJ_autoIndustry_Driversseat
I’ve been wondering about this for a while. A car that drives itself would have huge advantages for both productivity (work while your car drives you to your job) and safety (eliminate the most dangerous element of the car, the driver). Furthermore a car that drives itself would increase personal mobility by allowing people who can’t drive now (the elderly, handicapped, ect.). However, there will be serious concerns by both the consumer and the government on these cars. Lawsuits will emerge for any accidents that happen as a result of faulty programmed software.
http://buffaloreflex.com/campbell-would-you-ride-in-a-car-that-drives-itself/article_72bccd9c-b734-11e2-9717-0019bb2963f4.html
Will fully autonomous be worth the cost – lots and lots of electronics? We’ll see how things develop. Because of the US court system, however, we may be one of the last countries to drive them, er, ride in them.