Self-driving cars or autonomous automobiles have emerged as one of the most talked about technology innovations in recent memory. The prospect of self-driving vehicles gliding through urban streets across America feels more tangible than ever as big tech companies from Facebook to Uber have poured millions into the nascent technology as have many automakers. But in the midst of this excitement, there have come many myths and misconceptions. This article aims to debunk some industry misconceptions about AVs and present a more accurate picture of the current state of self-driving technology.
There Already Are Fully Autonomous Vehicles
Reality:
It doesn’t exist fully yet Level 5 Automation as of now but semi-autonomous features are common in most modern cars Adaptive Cruise Control Lane keeping assistance.Current on road AVs are at Levels 2 or 3 automation meaning humans still need to step in under certain circumstances. Companies such as Tesla Waymo and Cruise have been testing advanced self driving technology but driverless cars deployed on a broad scale are still several years away while regulatory technical and safety challenges are resolved.
Self Driving Cars Have an Accident Rate of Zero
Reality:
The goal of autonomous cars is to prevent their respective users from making the same mistakes humans do on the road since over 90% of road accidents are caused by human error. But they are not completely immune to crashes. Although AVs show impressive safety in controlled environments they have a significant development path ahead of them before being widely deployed in unpredictable real world situations like pedestrian behavior inclement weather or complex traffic interactions.
Autonomous vehicles will completely eliminate human drivers
Reality:
While full automation itself may seem appealing in its own right many tasks will still require human interaction at least in the near term. Most AV systems require an operator to intervene when the software encounters something it can’t handle. And some occupations like taxi driving, truck driving and operation of emergency vehicles will need human oversight for a long time to come.While automation will decrease the need for some driving positions, new AV monitoring and maintenance for example will be created.
Specialized Sensors Allow Self-Driving Cars to Navigate in Rain Snow or Fog
Reality:
Most importantly the technology that enables automated driving relies on cameras Li-DAR radar and GPS sensors that can malfunction or become inaccurate in bad weather. Sensory radar can be compromised by rain, fog, snow, and even direct sunlight which makes it incredibly challenging for AVs to identify lane markings, pedestrians, and obstacles. In contrast to human drivers who can draw on their intuition or past experience AVs rely on programmed algorithms that may not cope well with chaotic weather patterns.
AVs Will Significantly Reduce Traffic Congestion
Reality:
The promise of AVs includes very high potential for making driving patterns more efficient leading to shortened traffic time.But their actual impact on congestion is highly dependent on how they are integrated into current transportation systems. But if AVs are mainly private vehicles, traffic would be the same or worse. However, if deployed in shared mobility fleets such as with autonomous taxis and buses they can potentially reduce the number of vehicles on the road and enhance traffic efficiency.
Self Driving Vehicles Are Costly and Only for the Rich
Reality:
AV technology today arrives at OEM projects at a premium price a reflection of the capital needed for quality sensors AI and testing. But like with all innovations, prices will drop with time. There are a number of companies looking to make self-driving tech cheaper and AVs in the future may be a part of ride-sharing services, opening them up to the general public.
Conclusion
The widespread use of autonomous vehicles could be transformative for our transportation systems yielding positive outcomes such as fewer road fatalities less traffic gridlock, and improved access for people with disabilities. But myth from reality is to be separated, too. Despite rapid development AVs are neither fully autonomous nor free from technical, regulatory, and safety hurdles.