The Google driverless car is a top notch technological invention developed by the famous tech company Google aimed at making a self-drive car. This is an automobile that would be able to drive itself via the use of artificially intelligent systems via use cognitive ability and sensors installed on the vehicle hardware. As of now the car has been put into operation in three states in the US, that is, Florida, Nevada, and California. Nevertheless, the Google company I still pushing for the implementation of this technology across the country while facing moral and ethical questioning before passing of the laws to permit the operation of the driverless car amid various states.
A video posted on YouTube by Google on their channel showed the testing of the technology in the California resident showcasing an individual being driven around the city conducting normal daily errands like going to the dry cleaners and the fast food outlets comfortably before returning back home. The safety measures taken have been made sure of to operate within the legal bounded traffic rules and guidelines, e.g., maintaining the speed limit.
The driverless car has proven also to be able to work under extreme conditions facilitated by the intelligent equipment installed on board the car. The LIDAR (laser radar) system and the range finder mounted on the top comprising of a Velodyne 64-beam laser which aid in the guiding of the car via monitoring the external environment and collecting vital information. This equipment can operate comfortably even in unfavorable or extreme weather conditions, for instance, laser light technology has been known to identify objects/’obstacles even in a foggy weather condition.
The only time the driverless car was reported in an accidental incident is was in the year 2011 in August near the Google headquarters in Mountain View, California, where the car was involved in a crash for the first time. Another incident that occurred involved the vehicle being hit from behind while stopping at stoplight traffic sign, proving the car was working within the traffic laws offering better reactiveness in the event of an accident facilitated by the intelligent installed systems
The acceptable failure rate for the driving ability and the current accident rate of drivers put into consideration is quite essential in that its risks outweighs that of using technology or machines that make work easier. Human beings are known to error in various numerous circumstance, for instance, driving while texting, having conversions and phone calls, which have been main cause of accidents in the past and still is in some situations in the present.
It is quite significant in this 21st century to use machines and technology to make work easy since they have been programmed to work at optimal levels in different environments while minimizing well known human errors like ignoring traffic rules. In comparison to human manual driving, the driverless car will minimize accident rates via smart and well programmed cognitive decision making.The job opportunities expected will be numerous ranging from test drivers for helping intended end users of the product. Like any other technological system the end users have to be well conversant and identifiable with system operability for the system implementation to be successful. The large scale production of this system will give rise to new jobs for new test drivers and engineers responsible with programming the technology. Taxi and limo drivers stand the risk of losing occupations since the success of this program comprises of tech that has Google maps and good street directions that one will not need a driver for directions.
The system apparatus used to operate the equipment on the car do not come at a cheap price and the maintenance of the car for use of this technology requires skilled personnel. The specialty field for this will have demanding need for constant supervision to ensure accuracy in operation and execution. It is therefore advisable for there to be use of technologically advanced devices if they minimize human error and maximize success in human activity operations like driving the car, e.g., for a partially or totally blind person.
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