Initial Research Integration（Automatic driving））

Name:
Course Code:
Date:
Self-Driving Cars
The automotive industry has changed greatly in the last few years. In the last decade alone, electric cars have become practical and viable alternatives to the ICE (Internal Combustion Engines), and nearly millions have been delivered to customers. Other industry players like Volkswagen, Ford, GM, Toyota, etc. Have also intensified investment in developing practical electric cars. Another major shift in the industry that has drawn the attention of the tech community is self-driving technology. Unlike in the race to mass 0produce practical electrical cars which are dominated by the automakers, this segment has drawn the attention of tech companies like uber, google and many other startups. The technology is in its infancy stages, but the progress has been impressive. Some companies have been rolling out few developments to their customers that are, in principle making their vehicles autonomous. Most companies already have technologies that ensure that the car keep lanes, autopilot (Tesla), park themselves, summon them to their owners (tesla), etc. These technologies though seemingly primitive to the wholesome idea of self-driving, are the precursors of the technology that will power the cars of the future. These developments have prompted a debate on whether the technology is necessary or even save to implement. This essay describes some of the advantages and drawbacks of this technology.
Driver error accounts for about 94% of car accidents. Self-driving technology is aimed at reducing this number. Some of the factors that cause accidents are impaired driving, drugged driving, unbelted vehicle occupants, speeding, and distraction. Having cars with a higher degree of autonomy helps to reduce the prevalence of these accidents. For example, the car will take over control if the driver slumps into his/her seat and avert an accident. At the moment such features have been rolled out and have been credited to saving many lives. The technology is not yet perfect, but it is promising. Self-driving cars are expected to be equipped with technology to identify people, animals, and other road users and make the best decisions to avoid accidents. They will also e communicating with each other such that they can always utilize the road space in the most efficient and safe way possible than what humans could ever achieve. The technology could also prevent risky decisions mainly done by teenagers and drunk drivers to avert accidents.
Drivers spend a lot of time in traffic. In more developed countries, most people own automobiles, and traffic jams are unavoidable in most cities. Averagely, commuters in the united states spend 54hrs per year stuck in trafficCITATION Dav19 \l 1033 (Schrank, Eisele and Lomax). According to CITATION Dyf17 \l 1033 (Loesche), estimated 85.4 percent of the 150 million workers in the united states drove to their workplace in an automobile, which comes down to 128 million people. The multiplied effect of the man hours that could be saved by using the time this population spends in traffic is astronomical. If only these people could spend less time in traffic jams and or they could use the time to do other productive work, trusting that their cars will get them in job safely...