Strategies for innovating into the future:

Global futurist and author Jack Uldrich offers essential strategic information on nanotechnology, robotics, biotechnology, RFID and many other future technologies to help you prosper as exponential trends converge at this unique moment in history.





Recent Videos




Future Technology Blog Recent Posts

Self-Driving Cars: Unlikely, But Not Impossible

Posted on Dec 19, 2007 - 06:46 PM

image

Earlier today I wrote about the innovative work Toyota is doing in applying brain-monitoring technology to the development of intelligent cars. Well, I recently came across two other articles that suggest the era of self-driving cars could soon be upon us. (In the interest of full disclosure, however, I admit that the pace of adoption will probably be slow because humans will only reluctantly relinguish control of the steering wheel, and lawyers will likely sue the pants off the manufacturer of the robotic car unlucky enough to kill the first pedestrian.)

The first article explains how traffic jams are caused not simply by the addition of extra cars onto freeways. Rather, traffic jams are caused in equal part by the braking reaction of individual drivers. According to models, once a driver slows down every car behind that automobile slows down a little bit more. This creates a “backward travelling wave” and leads to those maddening situations when you are stuck in a traffic jam and when it eventually eases up you come to find out that there is no cause—traffic just appears to mysteriously start moving again.

The second article reveals GPS technology has now reached the point where vehicles in different lanes can talk to each other and, thus, know where other automobiles are at all times.

I would now encourage you to watch this video about BMW’s self-driving automobile:

If you put all the pieces together, one can make a strong argument that in the future self-driving cars might be better than human-operated cars. The end result—if people are willing to “unlearn” their need to control the car at all times—could very well be fewer traffic jams.

Related Posts

Elderly-Friendly Cars? Sweet!
General Motors Jumps the Curve with Smart Materials
Dude, Where’s My Flying Car?
Here Come the Robots
Stronger Than a Speeding Bullet
To Think Like a Child: Get on a Trike

Jack Uldrich is a writer, futurist, public speaker and host of jumpthecurve.net. He is the author of seven books, including Jump the Curve and The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business. He is also a frequent speaker on future technology and future trends, nanotechnology, innovation, change management and executive leadership to a variety of businesses, industries and non-profit organizations and trade associations.

Enjoy this post? Bookmark at the following sites.

BlinkList Favicon   BlogMemes Favicon   blogmarks Favicon   co.mments Favicon   del.icio.us Favicon   Digg Favicon   Furl Favicon   Google Bookmarks Favicon   Ma.gnolia Favicon   MyShare Favicon   Spurl Favicon   Technorati Favicon   Windows Live Favicon   YahooMyWeb Favicon  

Email This Article To A Friend

I actually still need advice, myself! I’m not qualified to answer that one, except to say - just film it! just keep doing it so that you develop the skills. You’ll get better with each project. Eventually you’ll be ready for a financially committed one.
Car Accident Claim

By Car Accident Claim on 2009 11 16

As with all personal injury claims, in order to make a successful car accident claim following a road accident, you would first need to prove that another person was at fault for the accident which has caused your personal injury.
Road Accident Claim

By Road Accident Claim on 2009 11 19

In the interest of full disclosure, however, I admit that the pace of adoption will probably be slow because humans will only reluctantly relinguish control of the steering wheel, and lawyers will likely sue the pants off the manufacturer of the robotic car unlucky enough to kill the first pedestrian.

Free Samples

By Free Samples on 2009 11 23

The self driving car issue is going down the wrong direction if we want to think about the future.  The most efficient, safe way to handle cars in the future will be to have a kind of train track system where your car, which is more like a pod, gets on and then is under the control of the train track system.  When you take away the element of control entirely, you can have the cars go 300 MPH and have no danger.  Anything else, you’re going to have car accidents.  Computers are good, but they’re not so good to avoid other self driving cars.

By Bob Davis on 2009 11 24

Gives Thanks, Very fascinating read, you should be dramatic of your web logs. I’ve been genuinely delighting developing up your situations from meter to time. Looking forward to understand your future positions
Many wonderful selective information, thanks for partaking.  Testament definitely be back more often….
car accident insurance claim

By Mark on 2009 11 29

The BMW 330i well and great model to drive to safe and moreover thanks for the good information and how does GPS technology is working..Cars Layouts

By Cars Layouts on 2009 12 09

In the future, should there be self-driving cars that can drive as well as professional human drivers?car recovery..

By car recovery on 2009 12 22

Is it good to have this self driving cars? <a rel="new tab” href="http://www.convertible-car-seat.org/">Convertible car seat</a>

By Convertible car seat on 2009 12 31

I always watch this show at BBC News cause Top Gears give ideas about new cars as well.

fix xbox 360 errors

By fix xbox 360 errors on 2009 12 31

I know I will get thumbs down for this but I don’t care! It is never financially wise to buy a brand new car! They depreciate thousands the minute you drive off the lot and you still owe all the money. You can buy a semi-new car and still get the benefits of a new car and save tons of money!.
Twitter backgrounds

By marisa on 2010 01 04

Really a good and interactive post, i think the post is informative and knowledge providing both in regard of current affairs and present economic Situations.
car insurance directory

By Mark Ewans on 2010 01 27

This is just addition acumen why I like your website. I like your appearance of autograph you acquaint your belief after out sending us to 5 added sites to complete the story.
dubai web design

By Rion on 2010 04 06

first I would like to give credit to the persons who created or designed the car,however the fact is always knocking at our heads that material things especially cars,as years gone by,the value depreciates depending on the model. So I guess,it’s much wiser to buy stuffs that is most helpful at reasonable use and prize.

Keyless Remote

By Keyless Remote on 2010 06 09

Its a great school full of history and I really want to go there, but it is a historically black school. All the pictures on there site are all of people of color as well. It seems unlikely that they would accept me because I am white…
Front Wheel Hub

By Front Wheel Hub on 2010 08 31

Enter the following information and post your comments:

Name:

Email:

Location(country, state, etc.):

URL(your website):

Comment:

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Please enter the word you see in the image below: