Driverless cars set to hit the road
Pace of development rising, but some roadblocks remain
As new year’s horns blared, it became legal to operate an autonomous (driverless) car on any Ontario road.
There are limits, however. The vehicles can only be used for tests by manufacturers, suppliers or research institutions. And among many restrictions, a specially trained driver must be at the wheel, ready to take over instantly if the technology falters.
Still, this is a big deal that gives the province a chance to be part of the major automotive transformation of the next decade — or three.
Autonomous vehicles aren’t primarily a green technology. But they’ll operate more efficiently than most human drivers, cutting fuel consumption as well as toxic greenhouse-gas emissions. With enough in use, they’ll reduce congestion and slow the demand for more roads.
Almost all the major automakers are working on autonomous cars, often with tech companies. Google is also in the game, and possibly Apple too. Most players promise consumer-ready vehicles around 2020.
Several places in the United States, Europe and Asia are, like Ontario, taking steps to promote the brave new driverless world. Most recently, Los Angeles unveiled a Coalition of Transportation Technology, “the first city project in the world to seriously tackle the logistics of introducing autonomous vehicles on a massive scale to public streets.”
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest technical professional society, predicted in 2012 that autonomous cars would account for up to 75 per cent of all vehicles on the road by 2040.
I think they were too cautious. The technology is progressing by leaps and bounds.
Most cars now include components of autonomous driving and, as I discovered at a preview of the Mercedes-Benz F 015 last spring, a few have complete versions.
Working versions, that is, as long as road markings and signs aren’t obscured, the weather is clear and the sun isn’t low and glaring.
Other glitches were discussed at the recent Los Angeles International Auto Show’s Connected Car Expo:
Autonomous cars can’t yet cope with police officers giving directions. They’re unable to read hand signals or understand why they should stop when a traffic light is green.
The radar, cameras, lasers and computers that gather and process information, and tell the car what to do, still don’t match the human brain’s ability to evaluate hazards. They might slam to an emergency stop when confronted with harmless tumbleweed, or a rabbit, or a smallish piece of metal.
They get confused by traffic cones, and in construction zones where temporary lane markers are painted on top of the permanent lines.
But glitches can be overcome and, again, the speed of development is breathtaking.
One example: Autonomous cars must be 99.99 per cent accurate, especially in congested cities where pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles move erratically in all directions. Laser sensing devices can come close to the required safe performance, but they cost thousands of dollars. A company called Quanergy claimed at Car Expo it would begin manufacturing a U.S. $250 version toward the end of this year.
One more thought: Going for a drive was once a way to break free for a while, a sort of anonymous hideout. Through our electronic gadgets, and the devices already in cars, we’ve already given away much of our ability to get away.
With autonomous cars, Big Brother is always in the back seat. Freelance writer Peter Gorrie is a regular contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. To reach him, email wheels@thestar.ca and put his name in the subject line.