Monday, February 18, 2013

Different stakeholders, different "driverless cars" goals

Let’s list all possible good or bad reasons for driving a driverless car. Let’s also map them to the steps defined in a previous post: Driverless cars for the next decades in 4 steps

step 0: today’s self parking feature and Google carsstep 1: partially autonomous driverless carsstep 2: everyone can operate a driverless carstep 3: shared driverless cars and transforming our way of life
* eliminating accidents.
* relieving drivers from a tedious task.
* allow elders and kids to be transported without any driver.
* more traffic at the same time on roads.
* more fuel efficient driving.
* less cars in cities.
* getting the car tailored for the task you need.



step 1: partially autonomous driverless cars

From what can be read on the news the main goal of:
  • today’s drivers is to get relieved from the sometimes tedious task of driving, especially in traffic jam or on highways.
  • car manufacturers is about security:
    • Volvo’s vision: “no one is killed or injured in a new Volvo by 2020”
    • Continental foresee “a safer, more efficient and more comfortable future” due to driverless cars.
    • Mercedes, who will probably commercialize the first self driving car has no stated vision as far as I know.

It’s interessant to see that there are different goals between drivers and car manufacturers, but what does it means?

  • Do car manufacturers are aware of drivers’ goal?
  • Do acknowledging the fact that driving is boring, dangerous for car manufacturers’ business?
  • Do they want to aim their goal towards something more consensual?

What are the goals of governments?