If looks could kill… no, wait, that’s not the point

JLR’s seeing autonomous cars

Another autonomous pod? Look a little closer. Along with the cameras and radar, there’s something that looks a little di erent.

Wait, are those eyes?!

That is correct. JLR has been working on this as part of the huge self-drive test programme it currently has in progress. That’s mostly about looding Milton Keynes with Range Rover Sports with Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous capability (the car can drive itself but the driver needs to be ready to take over), but also includes more radical ideas like these ‘virtual eyes’, which look at pedestrians the way a driver would.

Why do I want a self-driving car staring at me?

JLR points to research that says 63 per cent of pedestrians are worried about safety when crossing the roads of the future, so it’s worked with cognitive psychologists on the concept of trust.

So where does 2018’s Johnny 5 come in?

It’s part of an experiment to measure trust levels before and after the car ‘looks’ at you.

So in practice, when it notices you waiting at a zebra crossing, for example, you’ll be conident about crossing because the eye contact has assured you that you’ve been seen.

Here’s looking at you kid (and trying not to then run you over)