ADA

ADA Part 2: Legal and Social Issues

August 12, 2014 By pete

Don’t try this at home! A suggestive photo published by Volvo to illustrate the advantages of semi self-driving cars. Experts think that even before 2020, the combination of adaptive cruise control and autonomous brake systems will allow drivers of cars in the premium segment to cruise along in convoy, without having to pay attention what is happening in front.

Part 1 of ADA revealed a long history of attempts to create a self-driving automobile, while Part 2 discussed the political, social and legal issues confronting such vehicles. In Part 3, Gijsbert-Paul Berk considers the needs and fears of the marketplace.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk

Li Shufu (Li), Chairman of the Chinese Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely and Volvo), has confided in an interview with Chengdu Business Daily (CBD) in February, that his company has as goal to produce fully autonomous automobiles by 2020. This may be a reasonable goal if China does not have to deal with the complex politics and legal systems in place in Europe and the U.S.

Carlos Ghosn: The industry is ready, but are the legislators?

Back in Europe, Carlos Ghosn, head of the Renault-Nissan alliance, declared at a recent meeting at the French Automobile Club in Paris, “Cars that drive themselves can be on the roads four years from now, provided red tape does not get in the way. The problem isn’t technology, it’s legislation, and the question of liability that goes with these cars moving around … especially who is responsible once there is no longer anyone inside.” [Read more…]

ADA Part 3: Goodbye Nardi?

August 12, 2014 By pete

The Rinspeed XchangE concept car offers passengers virtually any seating or resting position and the interior they want and provides the relaxing business-class comfort found with major airlines. The seats allow more than twenty possible seating arrangements with a host of adjustment, tilting and swiveling options.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk

Aside from legal, political, and social issues, a growing market for ADAs also depends to a large extent on the price and consumer trust.

That there exists a market for such cars is beyond doubt. There are sufficient people who dislike driving in today’s dense traffic; some of the younger generation will certainly prefer sending SMS message with their smartphone or playing with their tablet over concentrating on the traffic around them. In Europe and the U.S. there are a great number of older drivers who are conscious that their reaction time is gradually slowing down or who have other minor handicaps. [Read more…] about ADA Part 3: Goodbye Nardi?

Self-Drive Cars and You: A History Longer than You Think

August 5, 2014 By pete

Playing scrabble while your car is driving itself on the Turnpike. As early as 1956 the Central Power and Light Company inserted this ‘inspired’ advertisement in leading US newspapers. Under the intriguing heading 'Electricity may be the driver', its text read: 'One day your car may speed along an electric super-highway, its speed and steering automatically controlled by electronic devices embedded in the road. Highways will be made safe – by electricity! No traffic jams ... no collisions ... no driver fatigue.'

Forget all of what you have considered major advancements in the development of the automobile: Ford’s assembly line, automatic transmissions, disc brakes, fuel injection, computerized fuel systems. By far the most important and far reaching automobile innovation since the very invention of the automobile is just taking form. ADAs (Autonomous-driving-automobiles) are not just around the corner but here, much to the delight of aging baby boomers who will never be immobile, and younger generations who will be able to play computer games and message text all while being driven automatically. Gijsbert-Paul Berk helps us understand where we’ve been, where we are going, and can we get there without the steering wheel and gas pedal.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk

Part 1

The well-known high-tech company and Internet search-site now intends to produce this urban ADA that even has no steering wheel. Legislators and managers in the car industry are skeptical about the feasibility of such a project in view of the high financial risk law suits over product liability. But Google is determined.

Recently Mark Reuss, Chief of Product Development at General Motors, confided to journalists that if Google pursued its development of ADAs (autonomous-driving automobiles), it could become a “serious competitive threat”. Reuss admitted that GM is developing its own self driving systems as well. “But we are not in a race with Google to create driverless cars. Our industry will phase in these technologies over years. I don’t think you’re going to see a fully autonomous car take over the city anytime soon.” [Read more…]