Even if you like to drive there are occasions you would not mind letting the computer do it: say a long trip, an extremely boring road, if you are a nervous wreck say after being mugged, or some close to you died, you just got a ticket from a particularly obnoxious police officer. I can also see the day when they can do things people can't, like get you to a new place fast when you have to get there on time and you would be messing with navigation and not get there in time. And it might be a relief to have it drive in slow-and-go bumper-to-bumper traffic.
To be honest the real application is for the elderly and maybe the young: Got to think that is good; they get the freedom and we get less slower traffic. And getting kids to school or picking them up sounds pretty cool. I wonder if they have to have an occupant. Be kinda cool if I can call my car and have it pick me up. Say you were with some people and decided to leave without them or early. Or say you were riding you bike and pulled a muscle or got sick or something broke on the bike...you just call your car and have it pick you up.
It just needs a robot in the driver's seat to go to the drive-through and pick up some cheeseburgers
At least a robot arm. Great if it could refuel at the gas station too.
You know if they make a law that it has to be occupied, people will have stuffed people in the driver's seat
I wonder if it knows how to stop for a police officer...next thing you know there is an all points bulletin out for you
They may also be able to communicate with one another and coordinate their actions so they let other autonomous cars in the lane and such and you are more likely to get where you want to go. There are so many rude and oblivious drivers that you can miss a turn because you can't get over in time. With other car's friendly and instant cooperation you get there and faster. There is not the constant delays trying to determine what another driver is up to...they just know...provided there are a lot of them on the road, say 20% or more. It can make emergency services faster saving lives as well. Instant and appropriate actions to allow the fire truck or ambulance through will get many to the hospital in time or save a house from burning to the ground.
I love the idea for campers. I would be really cool to eat a meal or go to the restroom without stopping.
My concerns are what happens when a road becomes a dirt road or they just resurfaced a road and don't have the lines on it yet. And what about pedestrian jerks who have a stop sign in their bag the just flash at the last second when an autonomous car approaches to make it break like crazy and send you flying into your breakfast? And can it find a parking space at a destination and get parked appropriately? What about complicated parking signs? Can it read that you can only pare at certain hours or for certain amounts of time? What about when unexpectedly a road is closed? Can it get turned around and back on another planed route or deal with a crazy detour? What about when road-workers are directing actions which are contrary to what the road indicators are saying like waving you through the wrong side of the street? Can it read signs like look out for moose or remainder or armadillos? Would it know to look out for them at the side of the road and to slow when they are. Clearly it can break for an animal...what size is the limit though? Do you break for a dragonfly and perhaps cause an accident from unexpected breaking? Mouse? Rat? Where is the cut off? You know it is going to be able to see these creatures...where is the programming that says Yellow-jacket ok, hummingbird not ok? I can see interest groups worked up over what animals it is ok to squish.