Driverless cars: The future of driving?
Driverless cars might seem as nothing more than fantasy-like concepts that fit into a science fiction movie with a futuristic theme. However, the truth is that such an idea has been seriously considered for years by some of the world’s top automotive manufacturers and other technology companies. The search engine giant Google has been a pioneer in research and development for driverless vehicles. Tesla, which specializes in electric cars, has also poured in a lot of money into developing automated cars .
The reality is that certain technology already exists to facilitate the successful launching of autonomous cars. Many new cars come with advanced active safety features that don’t require the driver to do anything at all on the road. For example, automatic braking systems are available to stop a vehicle that is likely to collide with other cars, pedestrians or obstructions. Similarly, adaptive cruise control is another technology that can automatically override any input from the driver in order to prevent an accident. Radar technology and advanced optical systems are typically integrated into the cutting-edge active safety capabilities in premium vehicles that are already on the market. Such features have definitely set the foundation for the development of driverless cars in the near future.
Automotive and IT experts agree that autonomous cars will most likely rely on precise instructions and guidance from GPS navigation systems that are loaded with updated maps. It might be necessary for drivers to subscribe to map plans to ensure that their autonomous vehicles follow the right paths between destinations. Driverless cars will have to be connected to numerous databases that provide real-time feeds on traffic conditions. Law enforcement authorities might also have to share some traffic information with driverless cars. For example, a police officer can pinpoint the location of an accident to alert nearby autonomous cars about a potential road closure and other situation that will require a detour.
