Driverless is like an elevator, explains Princeton Professor, Dr. Alain Kornhauser, in the above interview filmed at International CES2107. The difference between driverless and self-driving is that self-driving allows human involvement in the operation of the car (e.g. it has a steering wheel). His explanation simplifies the multiple levels of autonomous operation, as defined by SAE (see chart, PDF) and NHTSA, into a binary choice of driving versus self-driving.
Before we even get to the point of discussing human versus machine operation, he points out that safety needs to be the foundation and that automatic features that prevent human error should be a given. It is really about a change in attitude from mitigation to avoidance of accidents. And this goes beyond the automobile, as trucks and trains are ripe for improved safety through automation.
He alludes to the idea of taking a holistic view of how automation interacts with the built-environment. A self-driving approach that favors single passenger vehicles will be associated with longer commutes, more sprawl and more vehicle miles traveled. Driverless would be more like the elevator scenario, where people summon a shared vehicle, reducing congestion, energy use and vehicle miles traveled.
And, had we talked about it in our interview, Kornhauser would have been thrilled about California’s newly proposed regulations (PDF) allowing driverless cars, as indicated in his 3/11/18 SmartDrivingCars newsletter,
“This is fantastic news on the road to providing high-quality mobility for all. It squarely addresses the fundamental need to efficiently re-position vehicles so that they can get to even those who can’t drive. This is a real turning point for automated vehicles from self-driving toys for the 1% to affordable, environmentally friendly mobility for everyone.”
[Note, look for future interviews with some of the companies featured as broll in the above video.]
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