Not since Henry Ford’s first dream of producing an affordable and attainable vehicle became a reality has the fight for innovation been so close (in the auto industry). Recent advances in technology have enabled a new era that may be in the making. I am referring to the Autonomous car, which is in other words a car that does not need a driver. It may seem like a bit of a stretch, but the engineers have come up with a way to make it possible. Most people don’t realize it, but we’ve had this technology for quite some time. Level 1 autonomous driving can be found in most vehicles on the road, this is known as cruise control. The highest level (4) is a fully automated vehicle that requires no human interaction to drive and maneuver through traffic. Google currently has two vehicles that launched in early 2014; however, during the first year a person must be present inside the vehicle. An aircraft-like black box should be installed to track what happened before and after an incident (in case one of these cars has a collision). Amazon, Mercedes and a host of other companies have joined the race for automation. Keep in mind that these companies have different technologies and ideas for the future.
People ask if the cars will be bought as they are now or if a home delivery service will be provided. We don’t know (because it’s still too early). The real question to ask is whether the technology will eventually become the American standard. Well, we don’t know, but we do know that the American will to drive down an open road with the pedal to the metal can never be eliminated. Our tardiness, arrogance, and willingness to be independent are the factors that will eventually determine how this technology should be operated. For now we can only wait and see how well the vehicles do and watch the reactions of those around us. Which side of the debate are you on? Do you care if your vehicle drives you or the other way around? Do you trust a computer automated vehicle with you and your loved ones inside? Do you think it will end the devastation of traffic in big cities like Los Angeles or New York? Let us know what you think?