Putting An End To Myths Surrounding Self-Driving Cars

With ongoing technological advancements, it's easy to form opinions about self-driving cars. However, there are many misconceptions about them worth addressing.

Last year we tried to answer the question of whether we will ever have commercially available self-driving cars. Short answer, “yes” with an “if.” Long answer, “no” with a “but.”

Earlier this year we concluded their arrival is 20 years away. Of course, people have been saying that for at least 15 years so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

We even offered advice on how to speed up the process, but to the best of my knowledge, nobody took us up on it.

So, despite the constant moving of the goalposts when it comes to the arrival of publicly available self-driving cars (also known as autonomous vehicles), interest in them remains high.

Despite surveys indicating that 76% of Americans express discomfort with the idea of self-driving cars, interest in them remains high.

Despite just 12% of consumers saying that are “very trusting” of the technology behind self-driving cars, interest in them remains high.

The plain, old truth is that 69% of consumers feel negatively toward self-driving cars. But – and let’s say this louder for the people in the back – despite all of this interest in self-driving cars remains high.

Why? According to Forbes, “Here’s what Americans are excited about when it comes to potential future applications for self-driving technology:

• 20% cited enhanced mobility for the elderly and people with disabilities.
• 13% believe the vehicles will bring about increased efficiency in transportation logistics.
• 10% hope for a reduction in traffic congestion.
• 18% cited the ability to multitask while driving.
• 8% anticipate a reduced cost of labor for ridesharing or taxi services.”

Where Things Currently Stand

The development of self-driving cars is happening in fits and starts, but there are several reasons why our roads aren’t littered with them yet. According to CBS News, current self-driving technology is mostly at Level 2 or 3, meaning cars can manage some driving tasks but still require human oversight. Achieving Level 5 autonomy, where a car can drive itself in any condition without human intervention, is incredibly complex and requires advancements in AI, sensors, and computing power.

Ensuring the safety of self-driving cars is a major hurdle. While they can reduce human error, they must also be able to manage unpredictable situations and make split-second decisions. Incidents involving self-driving cars have highlighted the need for more robust safety measures.

Two other complicating factors are regulatory and legal issues, and infrastructure. Governments and regulatory bodies are still developing the frameworks needed to govern the use of autonomous vehicles, including setting safety standards, liability issues, and insurance regulations.

With regard to infrastructure, roads are currently designed for human drivers. For self-driving cars to operate efficiently, according to Digital Trends, there may need to be updates to road signs, traffic signals, and communication systems. Still, despite these challenges, companies like Waymo, Tesla, and others are making strides, and we may see more self-driving cars sooner than later.

Bustin’ Myths

Forbes indicates that consumer apprehensions regarding the safety and reliability of self-driving cars, combined with a reluctance to pay higher prices, are significant factors contributing to the anticipated slow growth of the self-driving car market over the next five years. A notable change in public perception will be crucial for these vehicles to establish a dominant presence in the U.S. auto market anytime soon.

Part of changing that public perception is to bust the myths and misconceptions surrounding self-driving cars, including their purpose. As Darkchamber292 wrote on Reddit, self-driving cars are not being developed “so you can sit in the back seat and eat a burrito while your car drives you to the nearest strip joint.” Their purpose is to increase road safety and prevent accidents, and there have been several recent technological breakthroughs that will go a long way toward accomplishing this, including:

1. Enhanced AI And Machine Learning: Companies like Waymo and Tesla are leveraging advanced AI and machine learning algorithms to improve the decision-making capabilities of their autonomous systems. These improvements, according to GM, help vehicles better understand and react to complex driving environments.
2. High-Performance Computing: Other electric vehicle manufacturers have made significant strides in developing centralized high-performance computing – advancements that are enabling faster data processing and more efficient operation of self-driving systems.
3. Satellite Connectivity: TS2 Space is enhancing connectivity through satellite technology, which can provide more reliable communication and navigation, especially in remote areas.
4. Regulatory Progress: There have been notable advancements in the regulatory landscape as well. New rules and frameworks are being developed to ensure the safe deployment of self-driving cars, which is crucial for their widespread adoption.
5. Practical Applications: Autonomous vehicle technology is being applied beyond traditional roadways. For example, CHC Navigation is utilizing AV technology in port operations, showcasing its versatility and potential for various industries.

These breakthroughs are paving the way for more dependable, efficient, and safe driverless cars, and once they are the norm public perceptions should begin to change. But other myths remain. Here, according to Driverless Future, are but a few of them:

• Driver assistance systems will gradually evolve into fully autonomous cars. In reality, there is a significant technological leap required to go from driver assistance features to full autonomy.
• The first fully autonomous cars will be available for consumers to purchase. The initial deployments are likely to be in ride-hailing and trucking fleets rather than personal vehicles.
• It will take decades until most vehicles on the road are autonomous. The transition could happen more quickly in certain areas as autonomous ride-hailing services are deployed.
• Self-driving cars are controlled by simple if-then rules. They use complex artificial intelligence and machine learning systems to navigate.
• Public demonstrations prove self-driving cars are ready for widespread use. These demos often mask fundamental limitations, and much more development is needed to manage rare edge cases.

Causes adds to the list:

• Self-driving cars can easily get hacked. The truth is that driverless cars have robust, redundant, localized systems that are not reliant on Wi-Fi or other more easily hackable systems.
• Self-driving cars mean the end of personal car ownership. Companies are today focused on ride-hailing and trucking industries, and it is expected that autonomous and non-autonomous vehicles will exist alongside each other.
• Autonomous vehicles prioritize convenience over safety. Self-driving cars and the computer systems and sensors that drive them, do not get distracted or impaired as human drivers do and can provide a more consistent driving approach across day and nighttime light levels.

Another misconception, according to Campanella's, is that passengers won’t have to do a thing. “Someone in the car will have to be ready to manually drive the car if it makes a mistake or decides to hand over control of the car should the computer decide that it doesn’t know what to do. The self-driving car will be more like a fancy cruise control that also can manage the other controls when conditions are right. When they deviate beyond the normal operating parameters of the computer, the task of controlling the car will have to be assumed by the human driver.”

Audi MediaCenter rebukes other self-driving car myths, including that they will make driving less fun. “This myth is an obvious source of anxiety to car lovers: being condemned to the role of inactive passenger. Some fear their car will prevent them from driving across the country and enjoying the pleasure of feeling their foot on the pedal and their hands on the steering wheel. But the opposite is true: Self-driving cars will not end the fun we have behind the wheel. No manufacturer will prevent its customers from driving their cars if they wish to do so. In the future, vehicle owners will still have the choice of driving the car themselves or handing over control to the car during unpleasant situations such as stop-and-go traffic on the highway.”

It’s Still Anybody’s Guess

The development of self-driving technology has proven more costly and time-consuming than initially predicted. Many companies have scaled back their programs or pushed back deployment timelines due to the immense resources required.

While progress continues to be made, self-driving cars that can operate safely in all conditions are still years away from widespread adoption. In the meantime, we can expect to see a gradual increase in advanced driver assistance systems and limited deployments of self-driving cars in controlled environments.