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Evan Brugger-Ir Presentation Copy 1

Autonomous vehicles have progressed significantly from early prototypes in the 1920s. By the 2000s, most major automakers were developing self-driving car prototypes. Currently, companies like Tesla, Audi, BMW and Mercedes have autonomous vehicles on public roads. However, regulating safety and determining moral decisions of autonomous vehicles remains challenging. Setting rules for use and determining if they are for the near future or long term will help with safe integration into society.

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60 views16 pages

Evan Brugger-Ir Presentation Copy 1

Autonomous vehicles have progressed significantly from early prototypes in the 1920s. By the 2000s, most major automakers were developing self-driving car prototypes. Currently, companies like Tesla, Audi, BMW and Mercedes have autonomous vehicles on public roads. However, regulating safety and determining moral decisions of autonomous vehicles remains challenging. Setting rules for use and determining if they are for the near future or long term will help with safe integration into society.

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Autonomous Vehicles

Evan Brugger
Autonomous
Vehicles
A self-driving car, also known
as a robot car, autonomous car,
or driverless car, is a vehicle
that is capable of sensing its
environment and moving with
little or no human input.
(Whitman, Self Driving Car.)
Inquiry Question:
How can a autonomous vehicle
account for things like human
gut feeling, instinct, and a will
to live? Does this make
autonomous vehicles safer
then ones with people behind
the wheel?
Side A (Pro-Autonomous Vehicles):
Looking from an economic standpoint, ● No Driver Fatigue
right off the bat there are advantages and ● Increased payload capacity (no
disadvantages. The shipping industry is a need for a cab, thus reducing
fantastic example of an economic benefit. weight)
With autonomous trucks there are lots of ● Trucks can move quicker, lowering
pros. These several examples would shipping and handling costs
change the way the shipping industry ● More fuel efficient trucks, again
runs, and would attract consumers to lowering costs.
online shopping more than currently... ● Increased customer satisfaction as
goods move quickly
Side A (Pro-Autonomous Vehicles) Cont. :

The aim of the concept was that a computer could better control a vehicle,
eliminating human error (Patrick.) This completely changes the game on
how we view vehicles. This is seen on the individual level, and on the
commercial level as these vehicles become more practical. “So that may
affect the business model: selling a transportation service (like Uber) rather
than a vehicle might make more sense” (Morris.) This affects these
businesses in a drastically positive way. As it begins to streamline the
marketing pull, as well as the production methods for autonomous vehicles.
Side B (Anti-Autonomous Vehicles):
One of the largest reasons for the ● A computer has no will to live,
fight against autonomous vehicles is unlike a human when making a
safety. The main market pull for decision behind the wheel.
autonomous vehicles is to create a ● What happens when a vehicle
safer environment on the road by computer crashes
eliminating human error, however ● What happens when a vehicle
there are several flaws in this... encounters a scenario is hasn’t
been programmed to handle?
Side B (Anti-Autonomous Vehicles) Cont. :
Other issues that will be created are the production of vehicles. This is a streamlining
process, but will begin change drastically with many cost disadvantages for the
consumer. “Cost: current sensors and compute equipment add hundreds, thousands or
tens of thousands to the bill of materials. That is not acceptable for most cars aside from
high-end luxury cars. Bringing cost down and reliability up is a major need and issue at
the moment.” (Morris.) Other negative effects include jobs. Many jobs such as bus, taxi,
Uber, and intercity freight drivers lose their jobs as they become replaced by computers.
Outside of this, companies such as DHL, FedEx and UPS no longer have a need for their
drivers. . . leaving many people jobless (Self-Driving Cars: 10 More Realistic Names.)
History of Autonomous Vehicles:

The history of autonomous vehicles dates all the way back to the early
1920’s. Beginning with Houdina Radio Control, under the name Phantom
Auto. This vehicle was radio controlled from a trailing car (manned vehicle)
behind the driverless car. Still operated by a human, in a separate vehicle
this vehicle was not fully autonomous. The idea of driverless cars started
early, however technology was never developed to make this truly possible
until until the 1980’s. In 1984, Mercedes Benz released a “electric eye”
computer concept (Whitman, Self Driving Car.) . . . . . .
History of Autonomous Vehicles Cont. :

. . . . . . What would be known by today's standards as a camera, this system


used LIDAR to detect objects and maneuver the vehicle without any live
input from a human. In the early stages of development autonomous
vehicles where not yet practical, so it was enforced that they test them on
closed courses, or streets with no traffic for liability concerns. “designed by
Ernst Dickmanns and his team at the Bundeswehr University Munich in
Munich, Germany, achieved a speed of 39 miles per hour (63 km/h) on
streets without traffic” (Whitman, Self Driving Car.)
Progressive History of Autonomous Vehicles:
Throughout time, we have seen auto companies jump into the pool. In the 1990’s we saw
Audi, BMW and General Motors begin research of self-driving, or autonomous vehicles. By
the year 2000 most every auto company had prototypes for a driverless car. The time
between 2000-2012 were the foundational building blocks for the development of the self
driving car. In these years computers where becoming more advanced, compact and
affordable allowing the practicality of a self-driving car to finally come into view (Whitman,
Self Driving Car.) By 2013 Tesla Motors, Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz all had running
autonomous vehicles on the road (The Revolution Will Be Driverless: Autonomous Cars
Usher In Big Changes.)
Current Situation with Autonomous Vehicles:
Looking forward, society worldwide has a decision to make ● What makes a morally correct
with how to handle the rising amount of self driving decision made by a self driving
vehicles. In order to best regulate the safety of our car?
roadways several things must be determined. “Who’s life is ● How are court cases involving
accidents with self-driving
more valuable: the driver, the passengers, other vehicle
vehicles handled?
occupants or pedestrians? How should these be weighted?
● Are we to let cars using AI
I believe EU regulations state that the age of persons
(artificial intelligence) make
should not be used in assessing their value” (Morris.) These their own decisions based
are some of the many, all important questions involving our upon computer judgement?
current situation with self-driving vehicles.
Looking Forward...
Looking forward there are several things we can do in order to best incorporate
Autonomous Vehicles into our society in a safe manner. By putting rules in place, we
can better regulate how self-driving cars are allowed to be used, and in what states
these are allowed. This brings up another controversial topic as many want this
regulation on the state side, v.s. the federal side. However, is no sure-fire way to
ensure that all of these counterparts are to be regulated with both parties (pro UV
and anti-UV), but there are things we can do to best suit the biggest need, safety
(Yang, J., and J. F. Coughlin.)
Looking Forward Cont...

Applying Rules:

● Mandating the amount of driverless vehicles per state/county/district


● Enforcing people to pay attention to the road while the vehicle is under its own
control
● Setting legal rules (when a vehicle gets into an accident ensuring that a particular
party is not blamed given the rules set in place)
To Conclude...
In order to best regulate safety one thing
must then be determined, are
self-driving cars for now, or for our
future? Setting regulations in place is
currently the best decision. However
looking forward more options may need
to be evaluated. Ultimately, we will find
out as cars begin to drive themselves.
Works Cited:
Whitman “Self Driving Car” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Sept. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_car.
“Autonomous Cars.” Topics, Sample Papers & Articles Online for Free, 13 Mar. 2016,
studymoose.com/autonomous-cars-essay.
Lin, Patrick. “The Ethical Dilemma of Self-Driving Cars.” Ted, Ted,
www.ted.com/talks/patrick_lin_the_ethical_dilemma_of_self_driving_cars?language=en.
“Self-Driving Cars: 10 More Realistic Names.” InformationWeek,
www.informationweek.com/mobile/mobile-devices/self-driving-cars-10-more-realistic-names/a/d-id/1297684.
“The Revolution Will Be Driverless: Autonomous Cars Usher In Big Changes.” NPR, NPR, 10 Dec. 2018,
www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=675254096.
“Computer.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/computer.
Yang, J., and J. F. Coughlin. “In-Vehicle Technology for SelfDriving Cars: Advantages and Challenges for Aging Drivers.”
International Journal of Automotive Technology 15.2 (2014): 333–340.
Morris, Daniel. Ph.D. Associate Professor University Research Organization Electrical and Computer Engineering
Michigan State University, “Autonomous Vehicles.” 3 Mar. 2019.

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