Are You Ready For Self-Parking Cars and Automated Highway Travel? Buckle Up - It's Coming!
We are getting closer and closer to relinquishing control over our vehicles and letting a computer handle the driving for us – Are you ready for it?
Cars Can Now Find A Parking Spot and Park Themselves
Are you sick of trying to find a parking spot? Good news – cars can how do this for you. With the technology being developed by French auto parts maker Valeo your vehicle will soon have the ability to drive into a parking lot, find an open spot, and park – all with a swipe of your smartphone.
Amine Taleb, Valeo’s project manager for advanced driver assistance programs explains how it works:
“Drivers approach their destination and the system finds a deck with an open space. The driver goes to the deck and activates the system. The deck then tells the car where the open space is. The sensors, cameras and laser activate, letting the car drive itself about 3 miles per hour, winding its way to the space and backing in. The system can even find a space on its own without a signal from a deck.”
While the benefits of this technology such as less congestion in parking lots and eliminating the frustration of trying to find a parking spot are appealing, there are still many kinks that need to be worked out.
For the full story see: http://www.ctvnews.ca/autos/cars-today-can-find-a-spot-park-themselves-but-hurdles-remain-1.1998120
Automated Highway Driving Could Be Possible Within 2 Years
Really?! That soon? All signs point to yes according to General Motors. Even though the company has self-admittedly stated, “sensing technology is not yet to the point where the driver can check out,” the company believes it’s closer to a reality than most realize. The new freeway system, being referred to as “Super Cruise,” is another step forward toward self-driving cars. Other manufacturers have already or will be introducing similar technology in the coming year.
For the full story see: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/automaker-sees-automated-freeway-travel-within-2-years-1.2758760
Adoption, Regulations, Insurance, and Other Considerations
With new driving technology getting closer to becoming a reality, answering the question about your preference for autonomous vehicles is more than just about giving your personal opinion. Are you actually ready for more automated technology in your vehicle? Are you comfortable giving up control behind the wheel? If you are like many drivers, you are still on the fence about it – Being able to fully trust this technology is something completely different, and a factor that will play a prominent role in the adoption of this technology on a large scale.
Adoption aside, there are still many other factors in play:
- Currently there are only a limited number of jurisdictions that allow driverless car on the road. How long before other states, provinces, and countries follow suit?
- What about government regulations and security guidelines?
- How will auto insurance be impacted?
- What technological infrastructure needs to be implemented on our roads for the technology to work? Who is going to pay for this?
- How will legal liability be treated in the case of car accidents? Who is liable?
- What about road safety and distracted driving?
What do you think about this news? Are you onboard? Are you a skeptic? How long do you think it will take before autonomous cars and automation becomes the norm?