Why Autonomous Vehicles are Not Yet on Roads

Autonomous vehicles are yet to come on the road because they have suffered significant setbacks technologically and in terms of safety. 

FREMONT, CA: The Autonomous Vehicle group of Google projected a future when people would be chauffeured around by self-driving robot automobiles almost a decade ago. People were shown computer images of futuristic cities with self-driving robot taxis and luxury concept vehicles with completely reclining seats and elevated televisions.

But over the last few years, the autonomous driving industry has suffered tremendous setbacks, both technologically and in terms of safety. Even the most modern technology's potential was exaggerated, while the abilities of the most inexperienced human driver were underestimated.

Driving is a complex, dynamic multitasking activity, contrary to popular belief. Managing a vehicle's speed and position in the face of changing weather, traffic, road conditions, and the human driver's different mental, perceptual, and motor abilities is challenging.

When people consider the rising difficulties of using incomprehensible "intelligent" devices, it's not unexpected that several drivers opt-out of using assistance systems entirely. Not to mention the numerous attempts by automakers to confuse the general public by calling less capable technology "autopilot."

Despite significant advancements, there are still primary barriers to the safe deployment of completely autonomous vehicles, which must be overcome before these vehicles can be seen on the roads. Here are the top remaining hurdles.

Sensors

Autonomous vehicles employ various sensors to "see" the area around them, assisting in detecting pedestrians, other cars, and road signs. The car's cameras help in the viewing of objects. Lidar measures the distance between objects and the vehicle using lasers. The radar identifies and monitors moving objects and their speed and direction.

Weather, high traffic, and graffiti-covered road signs can all reduce the precision of sensor devices. Even though radar is less susceptible to bad weather, guaranteeing that the sensors used in a fully autonomous vehicle can identify every object with the necessary level of certainty for them to be safe remains a problem.

The open road

Once on the road, an autonomous vehicle will continue to learn. It will travel on unfamiliar routes, identify objects it hasn't seen before, and be vulnerable to software upgrades. 

Companies must demonstrate that any new learning is safe and that the system does not forget previously learned safe behaviors, which is something on which the industry has yet to agree.

Regulation

In any industry, there are not enough standards and guidelines to cover an entire autonomous system. The present vehicle safety regulations assume the participation of a human driver who can take control in an emergency.

Without globally recognized guidelines and standards, no self-driving car will be allowed on the road regardless of how safe it is.

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