A decade ago, the concept of self-driving cars would have seemed like something out of a science fiction movie. However, many different firms are testing these vehicles on the road, and you have probably seen many articles about the progress being made. It can be difficult to differentiate between where the technology is currently at and what else still needs to be done. Here are some of the basics you need to know about this exciting new venture.
Current Technology
Autonomous cars are currently being tested, and so far, things are looking good. Most of these vehicles use a combination of lasers and cameras to determine where other objects are on the road. However, all the cars being tested are still prototypes. Most of them are unable to be fully autonomous at this point.
The future goal is to release cars that have no need for steering wheels or brakes, but right now, the cars being tested still need those features so that a human can respond where the car fails. There was one instance where Google was testing its self-driving car, and the car ended up in a collision. While the technology is progressing, there are still some bugs to work out.
Expert Speculation
Expert speculation is all over the place when it comes to when self-driving cars will become predominant on freeways. Some professionals are saying that many people could get autonomous vehicles as soon as 2020. Others are saying it will be a decade later than that, while even more experts say that it will not be until 2045 that most people will adopt this new technology.
The reason for such discrepancies is that there is still a lot to figure out with these new vehicles. In addition to fine-tuning the technology, infrastructure needs to be enhanced. Additionally, the rules for liability insurance and governmental regulations need to be established before these vehicles can enter the marketplace.
Effect on Repair Services
A big reason why people are excited at the prospect of self-driving cars taking over city streets is the potential for them to be much safer. A perfect autonomous car will allow you to sit comfortably in the vehicle while a robot takes you to your destination. By eliminating human error, roadside collisions have the potential to drop substantially. A lot stands to be changed, including the automotive repair industry.
Shops exist in every city dedicated to making vehicle repairs. However, in the future, if there are fewer cars ending up in accidents, then many of these shops may not get as much work and could suffer. Naturally, this profession is not going away completely. Car parts naturally wear down over time, so they will require routine maintenance in that regard. Additionally, chances are that accidents cannot be eliminated 100 percent, so the need for experts who can get a car up and running again is going to remain in society.
Self-driving cars stand to be a real game changer in the way people live their daily lives. Roadways could look very different in the next few decades, so keep an eye on autonomous driving technology to see how it continues to progress.
