Overview
This lecture introduces autonomous vehicles, explaining their technology, levels of automation, benefits, challenges, and potential future uses.
Definition and Technology
- An autonomous vehicle drives itself without human input using AI, radar, cameras, and sensors.
- AI (artificial intelligence) allows vehicles to interpret sensory data, detect objects, and determine navigation paths.
- Autonomous vehicles are also called driverless vehicles or self-driving vehicles.
Levels of Automation
- There are three levels: partially automated, highly automated, and fully automated vehicles.
Potential Benefits
- Autonomous vehicles could significantly reduce traffic accident deaths worldwide.
- Networking driverless vehicles could reduce traffic congestion (fewer jams).
- The overall cost of transportation may decrease with widespread adoption.
- Increased mobility for elderly, disabled, or unlicensed individuals who cannot drive, enhancing their independence.
Potential Disadvantages
- Risk of hackers or cyber terrorists causing accidents or chaos.
- Possible job losses for truck drivers, taxi drivers, chauffeurs, delivery people, and bus drivers.
- Concern that excessive reliance on AI may reduce human skills and usefulness.
Future Uses
- Fully automated vehicles could serve as spaces for entertainment, sleeping, working, eating, meetings, and presentations.
- Some people might use driverless trucks or vans as mobile workplaces.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Autonomous Vehicle — a vehicle capable of guiding itself without human intervention.
- AI (Artificial Intelligence) — computer systems designed to interpret data and perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence.
- Driverless/Self-driving Vehicle — alternative terms for autonomous vehicles.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the three levels of vehicle automation.
- Consider social, ethical, and economic implications of autonomous vehicle adoption.