What are Robotic Cars?

This robotic car was developed by Google

Robotic cars are vehicles that are able to maneuver themselves with little or no interference from a human being.





For More Info, Refer to This Site:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/10/11/google-robot-car-the-future-of-cruise-control-convoys-car-sharing.html

The Robotic Car

A First Glance

The parts of a robotic car

The robotic car consists of four main parts. While many companies have developed robotic cars, this design is based on the autonomous cars developed by Google:

·         Four radars: three in the front of the vehicle and one on the rear. Their purpose is to detect speed and analyze traffic and geographic surroundings in real time.

·         A mounted laser to create a three dimensional map of the vehicles environment in real time.

·         On board cameras to interpret traffic light signals and create more data regarding the vehicle’s surrounding in real time.

·         A GPS to interpret vehicle’s absolute position and to input destination.

      The data created by this hardware is then seamlessly interpreted by Google’s Artificial Intelligence software and then the vehicle operates accordingly. According to Sebastien Thrun, who is the project leader for Google's operation of robotic cars, Google has been able to drive its autonomous car on highways and congested downtown streets without incident. In fact, as of July 2012, Google's very own autonomous cars have logged up a total of 300 000 miles without a single car accident.

For More Info, Refer to These Sites:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/10/11/google-robot-car-the-future-of-cruise-control-convoys-car-sharing.html

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/135309-robot-cars-coming-to-a-crowded-california-freeway-near-you

Or watch this Youtube Video:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXylqtEQ0tk&feature=related 

What Benefits Would the Robotic Car Provide?

 Robotic cars provide many benefits:

• Fewer accidents
• Lower mobility costs (gas consumption, vehicle insurance)
• Road networks would be used more efficiently
• Reduces the need for parking spaces
• Decreased cost for shipping
• New businesses can develop (i.e. a driverless taxi service)

Businesses that would benefit greatly from this technology include:

·         Zipcar. A person will be able to simply call Zipcar and the vehicle will be able to use GPS technology to drive itself to the customer’s location.

·         Military. This technology can be implemented for use in a military environment, eliminating the risk that is entailed with the use of a human driver, i.e. death.

·         Trucking companies. Upon perfection of this technology, perhaps the need for a human driver will become unnecessary and trucking shipments will be able to drive themselves to their predetermined destinations.

·         Pizza companies, grocery stores, taxi companies and limo services are also some possible future benefactors of this technological advancement.

For More Info, Refer to These Sites:

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/135309-robot-cars-coming-to-a-crowded-california-freeway-near-you

http://www.driverless-now.com/

What are the Barriers to Adoption and Issues?

   
  Before the robotic car is commercialized, companies will have to solve these issues regarding robotic cars:

• Vehicles lose sight capabilities in snow and in other bad weather conditions (the sensor arrays on the car are unable to see road markings)
• Laws require that a driver be present within the vehicle despite the fact that a driver is theoretically unnecessary
• Additionally, if the robotic car crashes, who is liable, the car or the person sitting in the driver's seat?

The robotic car's "sensor arrays". It is unable to
see road markings during bad weather.

In addition, there is criticism involving the robotic car. According to MIT researcher Bryan Reimer, people may become too accustomed to automated driving that they will drive less and their experience will fade; thus resulting in a greater chance of error if they were to drive again. Further, human drivers would have to be alert all the time. If there were to be a malfunction, Reimer states that humans will not be effective in taking over for the car because they would need a “much deeper understanding of the autonomous car’s capabilities and limitations."

            For More Info, Refer to These Sites: 

http://www.driverless-now.com

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/135309-robot-cars-coming-to-a-crowded-california-freeway-near-you