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Madelaine Fisher

Professor Hunter

English 1201 Online Summer

30 July 2017

Autonomous Vehicles

Self-driving cars, or autonomous vehicles, are a technological advancement that is going

to be a major part of our future. In the past, this technology was only known in science fiction.

Today, it is becoming a reality. Driverless vehicles are coming, and they are coming quickly. Not

only will they provide accessibility to those unable to drive, but they will make our roadways

safer than they have ever been. They will also need to go into production, which will create

thousands of jobs. In the near future, self-driving cars will have plenty of efficient technology to

successfully navigate the roadways as the most common mode of transportation.

Over the last decade, automotive companies have been racing to create the technology to

successfully build the worlds first fully self-driving car. Many large companies have tried to get

their mark on the project, such as Google. In 2009 (Waymo, Journey) Google started on their

model, called the Waymo. As one of the most advanced projects in the field, they have had their

Firefly model successfully navigate through busy streets, and they have now released fully

autonomous mini-vans.

There is a scale that determines how autonomous vehicles operate. There are levels zero

to five. On this scale it is determined how much artificial intelligence the vehicle uses to operate.

The scale starts with level zero, which is a basic fully person-operated vehicle. From there, level

one is a basic introduction of artificial intelligence. Most functions are still performed by the

driver, but few functions can be performed by the car. An example of one of these functions may
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be automatic braking. Level two is where slightly more technology is used, such as cruise

control, though it isnt a much higher step than level one. Next on the scale is level three. Like

steps zero through two, a driver is still needed, but this is the last level with this requirement.

This is when a vehicle can mostly function on its own, but a driver is still necessary to step-in to

complete certain functions. Level four is next, and is when a vehicle is considered fully self-

driving. It can navigate roadways for an entire trip, but it is not fully capable of comprehending

every aspect of driving. The vehicle may have issues navigating extreme weather conditions or

irregular environments, such as forests, at this level. The highest level of autonomous driving is

level five, and it is also the overall goal. This is similar to level four, but in this situation, the

artificial intelligence is able to make ethical decisions and navigate situations that a level four

vehicle would not, almost as if an actual person were driving.

What technology goes into these highly complicated level five vehicles to allow them to

function properly? The most important elements to the success of autonomous vehicles are

LIDAR technology, radar, GPS, artificial intelligence, and data from cameras.

LIDAR stands for light detection and ranging. It is a remote sensing method (NOAA,

What is LIDAR?) that is used to examine the vehicles surroundings. A pulsing laser is used to

gain three dimensional information about the vehicles surroundings. For example, if the car is

on a common roadway, this technology would pick up on physical surroundings such as stop

signs, other vehicles, pedestrians, or medians. You can also see in the image that textures are also

picked up, which helps determine where the car believes it is safe to drive. When this technology

was first introduced, it was highly expensive, which is why the production of autonomous

vehicles were estimated to be produced at such a high cost. With the perfection and regular use

of this technology, the price has come down to an estimated $500 per system, thanks to a
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company called Velodyne, who have been working on this technology since 1983 (PRWeb,

"Velodyne Announces Order From Ford Motor Company for its Next-Gen Solid-State LiDAR

Sensor Designed for ADAS Safety and Autonomous Driving).

LIDAR data collected by NOAA aircraft. Digital image. What Is LIDAR? NOAA, 1 Oct. 2012.

Web. 23 July 2017.

Another technology that is used for detection is radar, or radio detection and ranging.

Companies like Tesla use radar to help the cars vision in weather conditions, but new ways to

use the technology have been surfacing. There is a system called Ultres, which uses radar to

provide four dimensional, real time, object detection (The Next Web, Radar system envisions a

safer future for self-driving cars). With technology advancements like this continuously

surfacing, self-driving vehicles will have a quicker sight and reaction time than a person.

Another piece of technology that autonomous vehicles use is GPS, or global positioning

system. Like we rely on GPS to navigate, self-driving cars artificial intelligence (AI) relies on it

as well. Companies have taken the technology one step further, for example, Nvidia. In their

NVIDIA DRIVE PX AI system, Nvidia Mapworks uses a combination of GPS, cameras, and

LIDAR to successfully navigate.

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Lastly, it is absolutely necessary that a self-driving vehicle has an artificial intelligence

(AI) system. In order to successfully navigate, the car has to be able to make intelligent, as well

as ethical decisions. The vehicle also has to successfully use all of the mapping technology

together. Artificial Intelligence systems are created in the form of a computer that goes into the

vehicle. A strong example of an AI system is from Nvidia. The NVIDIA DRIVE PX system is

able to use mapping, sensors, cameras, and intelligence successfully at the same time. The way

that intelligence is acquired is through their deep learning system. This helps the AI to learn

voice recognition and how to properly navigate.

NVIDIA extends collaboration with HERE to develop HERE HD Live Map. Digital image.

NVIDIA, HERE Collaborate on Artificial Intelligence for HD Maps. Geospatial World, 6

Jan. 2017. Web. 30 July 2017.

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Though there is more technology that goes into these vehicles, the ones listed above are

absolutely imperative. Without them, a self-driving car would not be able to function with full

efficiency.

Major companies are racing to become the first manufacturer with a level five vehicle.

From Google, to Audi, to Apple, everyone wants to make their mark. Due to the race being so

intense, the technology is closer to becoming common than you may think. Googles Waymo

project has fully autonomous mini-vans on the road already in California. For months, Uber

conducted an experiment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where their vehicles were on the road. Otto

created an autonomous semi-truck fully capable of driving long distances. Self-Driving cars are

becoming a regular reality.

With every new technology, there are pros and cons. People may be concerned with

price, the automotive and transportation industrys job availability, or they may just not trust the

technology. Also, people may be concerned with how the environment will be impacted. Though

there are cons such as these, the pros are overwhelming. Driverless vehicles provide private

transportation to the elderly and handicapped. Due to the fact that the AI has to be created, jobs

in the computer engineering and information technology fields will open. Accident and death

rates will decrease, making our roads safer. Lastly, as the technology comes in higher demand,

prices will compare to those paid for cars today.

Many people are concerned that the price to own an autonomous vehicle will be too high.

The main reason that prices are projected to be so high is because the technology is new, and the

demand is currently unknown. Take the price of cell phones as an example. When a new model

first comes onto the market, prices seem overwhelming. As more consumers purchase the

product, prices will come down. It will be the same situation with self-driving vehicles. As
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consumers begin to accept them, prices will become reasonable. Another concern related to

financial cost is insurance prices. In reality, the prices wont become higher. They actually may

go away completely. Automotive insurance is based mostly on possibility of human error.

Without the possibility of human error, theres no reason for insurance. Instead, the

manufacturers of the vehicles would assume responsibility. (NPR, Self-Driving Cars Raise

Questions About Who Carries Insurance)

With all of this technology being created, a new job industry will grow. Developers are

needed to create this complex technology. Companies will need experts in computer engineering,

navigation, information technology, and of course, auto technology. Though level zero cars will

be cycled out of production, there will still be jobs available in the manufacturing of the higher

level vehicles.

Additional to the self-driving car, self-driving semi-trucks are also being developed. In

October of 2016, Otto made a 120 mile trip to deliver beer (USA Today, Self-driving truck

makes first trip a 120-mile beer run). There was still a driver present in case of an

emergency, but Otto proved to be successful in its mission. With this technology, people may be

concerned that the profession of truck driving will be obsolete. As of now, Otto is intending for

their technology to be used while the driver is sleeping in order to complete trips faster. They are

not intending to completely take over the industry.

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Otto's Truck Driving Itself as the Driver Rests in the Backseat. Digital image. Uber's Self-driving

Truck Went on a 120-mile Beer Run to Make History. Business Insider, 25 Oct. 2016.

Web. 30 July 2017.

Another scenario of testing has been carried out by Uber in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Though the experiment is no longer being conducted due to conflict of interest with the city,

(New York Times, "Pittsburgh Welcomed Ubers Driverless Car Experiment. Not Anymore."),

driverless vehicles successfully operated in the city with no records of any accidents. This

contributes to the fear that the taxi industry is in danger. Though this could possibly become a

reality, companies such as Uber that may run self-driving taxi services will still need people for

tasks such as customer service, vehicle repair, advertising, and manufacturing.

Another concern is about being able to simply trust the technology, or its ability to make

ethical decisions. When the technology is perfected, being on the road with self-driving vehicles

will actually become safer than being on the road with a human driver. With AI, the possibility

for human error is almost eliminated. This means that deaths from distracted and drunk driving

will become almost non-existent. In the United States, ninety-four percent of crash fatalities are

from some sort of human error (Waymo, Technology). With autonomous vehicles, we wont

need to fear things such as drunk drivers, texting and driving, or dangerous speeding anymore.

The technology will be programmed to follow laws and be safe. With the programming, this is

where the topic of ethical dilemma plays in. A level five autonomous vehicle has to be

programmed in preparation for accidents. The vehicle has to be able to make ethical decisions

that could put lives in stake. For example, like in the image, the car might be faced with the

choice to either run over one person, or drive into a crowd of people. Or it could be faced with

the choice to either run into a guard rail and kill the passengers, or run someone over. What does
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it choose? This is left up to public opinion, and whatever the public decides is how the vehicles

will be programmed. Once this issue is solved, the roads will become systematic, like a machine.

Yes, like with all technology, there will be error, but the margin will be significantly lower than

it is today.

Example of ethical dilemma. Digital image. Why Self-Driving Cars Must Be Programmed to

Kill. MIT Technology Review, 22 Oct. 2015. Web. 30 July 2017.

One last concern is about the impact on the environment. With the new technology,

energy consumption could actually be reduced, or increased. It depends on whether models are

electric, run on fuel, or are hybrids. It depends on the vehicle sizes, and many other factors, such

as how often people use the vehicles. Many factors go into determining the long term

environmental impact, and unfortunately, it isnt easy to project. If we continue to have the

vehicles operating on gasoline, the impact is going to be more negative. Without the hassle of
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having to drive, people may take the technology for granted and ride in their cars more often. If

people are conscious about how often and how long they drive, it could hold a positive impact. It

is important to focus on the ways that energy can be saved, and incorporate them into the vehicle

designs. For example, without a driver behind the wheel, it would not be necessary to have some

of the safety equipment, which would help the vehicles be lighter, (TIME, Self-Driving Cars

Could Help Save the EnvironmentOr Ruin It. It Depends on Us) which would result in less

energy consumption. Also, if the vehicles are electric, fossil fuel consumption would decrease,

resulting in less pollution. Another way to help the environment using autonomous vehicles is to

encourage carpooling, and other energy-saving methods we use today. At the end of the day, the

environmental impact is up to us.

One of the pros of self-driving vehicles is that they will provide private transportation to

the elderly and handicapped. To those unable to drive, tasks as simple as getting to a doctors

appointment can become impossible. While there is the option of public transportation, it can be

dangerous for them to access on their own, and it is not available in all cities. With the

introduction of driverless vehicles, those unable to drive will be able to own their own

transportation, which they can use with minimal assistance. This can be absolutely life changing

to so many people. There is a small village in Japan where they have begun to test self-driving

vehicles. Their main goal is to provide accessibility to the elderly. In this village, people may

spend hours waiting for a bus just so they can buy groceries. Even worse, is someone becomes

desperate enough, they may drive even though they are unfit to do so. People all over the world

face the same issues. In interviews conducted by the Wall Street Journal, it really shows a

window into the life of elderly people in rural areas. This technology could also change the lives

of blind people, or people with paralysis. Until autonomous vehicles become common, they will
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never be able to be in a vehicle on their own, without assistance. When this technology becomes

accessible, life will become so much easier for those who are struggling.

In the near future, self-driving cars will have plenty of efficient technology to

successfully navigate the roadways as the most common mode of transportation. They will create

jobs, provide accessibility, and save thousands of lives every year. Transportation will be safer,

and more efficient. There are also opportunities to help the environment. When they come into

demand, autonomous vehicles will be similar in price to current cars, minus the insurance costs.

The future is almost here, and its starting with the self-driving car.
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Works Cited

ArXiv, Emerging Technology from the. "Why Self-Driving Cars Must Be Programmed to Kill."

MIT Technology Review. MIT Technology Review, 26 Oct. 2015. Web. 30 July 2017.

"Autonomous Car Development Platform from NVIDIA DRIVE PX2." Self-Driving Vehicles

Development Platform | NVIDIA DRIVE PX | NVIDIA. Nvidia, 2017. Web. 08 July

2017.

Carson, Biz. "Uber's Self-driving Truck Went on a 120-mile Beer Run to Make History."

Business Insider. Business Insider, 25 Oct. 2016. Web. 30 July 2017.

Cava, Marco Della. "Self-driving Truck Makes First Trip - a 120-mile Beer Run." USA Today.

Gannett Satellite Information Network, 26 Oct. 2016. Web. 23 July 2017.

Example of ethical dilemma. Digital image. Why Self-Driving Cars Must Be Programmed to

Kill. MIT Technology Review, 22 Oct. 2015. Web. 30 July 2017.

"Japan's First Extensive Tests of Self-Driving Cars." Wall Street Journal - Online Edition, 22

Jan. 2016, p. 1. EBSCOhost.

Kang, Cecilia. "Pittsburgh Welcomed Ubers Driverless Car Experiment. Not Anymore." The

New York Times. The New York Times, 21 May 2017. Web. 08 July 2017.

Kaser, Rachel. "Radar System Envisions a Safer Future for Self-driving Cars." The Next Web.

N.p., 04 Apr. 2017. Web. 23 July 2017.

LIDAR data collected by NOAA aircraft. Digital image. What Is LIDAR? NOAA, 1 Oct. 2012.

Web. 23 July 2017.

Noguchi, Yuki. "Self-Driving Cars Raise Questions About Who Carries Insurance." NPR. NPR,

03 Apr. 2017. Web. 30 July 2017.

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NVIDIA extends collaboration with HERE to develop HERE HD Live Map. Digital image.

NVIDIA, HERE Collaborate on Artificial Intelligence for HD Maps. Geospatial World, 6

Jan. 2017. Web. 30 July 2017.

"NVIDIA, HERE Collaborate on Artificial Intelligence for HD Maps." Geospatial World.

Geospatial World, 06 Jan. 2017. Web. 30 July 2017.

Otto's Truck Driving Itself as the Driver Rests in the Backseat. Digital image. Uber's Self-driving

Truck Went on a 120-mile Beer Run to Make History. Business Insider, 25 Oct. 2016.

Web. 30 July 2017.

US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "What Is

LIDAR." NOAA's National Ocean Service. National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Association, 01 Oct. 2012. Web. 23 July 2017.

"Velodyne Announces Order From Ford Motor Company for Its Next-Gen Soli." PRWeb. N.p.,

05 Jan. 2016. Web. 23 July 2017.

Waymo. Google, 2016. Web. 7 July 2017.

Worland, Justin. "Self-Driving Cars: Researchers Study Environmental Impact." TimeSelf-

Driving Cars Could Help Save the EnvironmentOr Ruin It. It Depends on Us. Time, 8

Sept. 2016. Web. 30 July 2017.