An Autonomous Future

The world of automobiles is changing as fast as computer processing power allows it to. From info-tainment systems to onboard diagnostics to propulsion systems, the lines between the tech and auto industires are being blurred, fast. A big part of that push for high tech automobiles is coming from tech giants. Google is already on the ground, testing truly driverless technology, while Apple is rumored to be entering the foray soon. While mainstream manufacturers have the funds and the R&D strength to pursue sustainable propulsion systems to reduce the environmental impact of motorised transport, these tech companies are pursuing a slightly different path - taking what they've learned in tech to apply the knowledge to cars, in the efforts to realise their vision of the future.

HOW WOULD ONE WORK?

A dome at the top of Google's prototype pod-car houses what is known as a lidar. Like sonar and radar, except lidar - light detection and ranging - sends out a laser pulse, and uses the time taken for it to bounce back from another object to calculate the distance to that object. Google's precise mapping tech and GPS tracking lets the car "know" where it is. The prototype is in its learning phase and requires a human in the car at all times, till the car can "learn" how to react to different situations. Like whether to stop for a random crocodile on the road (just Australian things) or run away from it screaming. Humans know the right answer but the machine needs to learn if saving a croc is moral or not. 

WHERE DOES THIS LEAD?

Driverless technology is non-vital innovation at present, since finding a viable alternative to petrol and reducing fossil-fuel dependcy is way more important. However, with the interest of tech giants like Google, the future of the automobile is sure to be more streamlined and connectivity will go far beyond what is possible today. Driverless cars will come, but for the motorists of the world to accept it as a mainstay will surely take some time.