Automobile
Google’s Driverless Car Forces US to Think Seriously about Vehicle Autonomy
With Google testing its driver less car on California highways, the US regulators and auto manufacturers are thinking of what safety measures to take, making vehicle autonomy real. Watchdogs see self-driving cars as terrific means to reduce the traffic accidents and deaths that have declined over past 2 years, while killing nearly 32,000 people last year.
The regulators are now working with potential sellers and designers of the vehicles that can see more driver less cars and that drive better than a human, addressing how to use the tech at the earliest. They are working with makers on how these cars interact with those vehicles, which are driven by humans and what measures to take if any accident happens.
David Strickland of NHTSA said that autonomous cars are the next evolutionary step in terms of safety technology in the passenger flotilla. He said they are yet to test whether or not the technology is reliable.
Senior President for R&D at Volvo, Peter Mertens said that such vehicles won’t start operating overnight. A person or design team is required at the helm of cars for developing for ten to twenty years. The tech research has made the driverless cars to evolve and it may come with some additional features, like cruise control over time that reduce the speed of the car if it finds any other object or vehicle in front of it. It may also get some advanced systems that will allow cars to communicate electronically.
The transportation department at theUSbegan a field test in this August of nearly 3000 connected cars inAnn Arbor,Michigan. These vehicles, featuring wireless devices use GPS to communicate with other cars and roadside objects. NHTSA plans to test next generation’s passenger vehicles using the same technology. Ron Medford, the deputy administrator at the agency that evaluates cars for safety, said that software has to be implemented to control the driverless car.
The search engine giant has modified a Toyota Prius to drive itself using radar sensors, detailed maps, video cameras, and laser rangefinder. Its in-built mechanism lets the driver take the control of the vehicle simply by hitting brakes or holding steering wheel. Company’s technical leader, Chris Urmson said that they are working hard on the autonomous cars for its foray into the auto field. He said they are proceeding with all the safety consciousness and appropriate caution.
Volvo’s strategy is to eliminate the death of people that are caused by car accidents. Peter said that it’ll completely eliminate the possibility of human life-loss by 2020.
Automobile
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