In today’s fast paced tech world we’re accustomed to things moving fast, but you might be surprised with the rapid approach of Google’s self-driving car. It’s not something in the far away future, like say, flying cars; rather, the Google self-driving car is something of today. So why don’t you own one? Well, it’s still in the works, bureaucratically.
Introduced in the 1980s, the idea of a self-driving car has been ongoing. Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Continental Automotive Systems, Autoliv Inc., Bosch, Nissan, Toyota, Audi, Volvo, Vislab from Parma, Oxford University and Google have all been working on the idea. But it’s Google who’s brought the technology furthest by way of its Google Map technology.
By using a $70,000 laser radar (LIDAR) system and a range finder mounted on the top of a Velodyne 64-beam laser, the combination allows the vehicle to generate a 3D map. The computer maneuvers the car through these high-resolution maps.
Most incredible is that after 300,000 miles of self-driving, there have only been two accidents—both were human error and not the fault of the Google car. In short, the Google self-driving car is a better driver. It will maintain the speed limit, keep a proper distance and react faster than a human should there be a possible accident.
So What’s the Problem?
Well, the technology is coming along. In many cases, it’s here. But what’s lacking are legislative laws for cars that have no human driver. After all, the traffic laws assume a human is operating the vehicle and ticket the driver of a vehicle, not the vehicle itself. So then, who would be at fault and pay the price for an accident when involving a Google car?
Two states are braving the new frontier: California and Nevada. Nevada was the first state to legalize self-driving cars. But the laws still fall short for now. They still require a competent and legal driver behind the wheel at the ready to take over. But California has already proven the self-diving car’s worthiness. By way of YouTube a legally blind man named Steve Mahan is taken around by his self-driving Toyota Prius to pick up laundry from the dry cleaners, a drive-through restaurant and back home.
In August of 2013, a Robo-Taxi was revealed to the public. For now, legislative drag is holding the Google car fast, but imagine a future where you call your car to pick you up from the bar, when freight trucks drive all night without the dangers of a driver falling asleep at the wheel. Traffic jams would be lessened because Google cars drive the speed limits, don’t cut other cars off and road rage would be akin to the pose. So if sky is the limit, when will I get my jet pack?
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