Robot-driven cars on roads by 2030

[jay2000]

Scientists are developing the next generation of robot-driven cars and predict they could be shuttling humans around by the year 2030, a conference was told. The first wave of intelligent robot cars, capable of understanding and reacting to the world around them, will be tested this November in a competition run by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Scientists are developing vehicles which will not only be driven by robots independently, but will be able to operate in a simulated city environment. “In the past it was sufficient for a vehicle just to perceive the environment, said Sebastian Thrun, an associate professor of computer science and electrical engineering at Stanford University.

http://jayed.us/2007/02/18/robot-driven-cars-on-roads-by-2030/

Its all coming just like steven spilberg said;)

[foxyshadis]

Or Philip K. Dick, rather, the man who envisioned the world of Minority Report as far back as 1956, if not in such vivid detail. ;)

There have been prototype cars that could drive themselves on the "intelligent highways" that were the rage in the 90's, but so far they aren't reliable or cheap enough. It'll probably be even earlier than 2030 when Mercedes comes out with it.

[Doobie]

"Grandpa, is it true that you had to drive a car when you were young?"

[dirio49]

"Run Sunny run"

That will be cool, but up to a point, think about it you will be tracked very easily by uncle Sam.

[techreactor]

why do you even need robots to drive the cars (do they give us additional comfort seeing someone driving). Just put the chips inside the car and let it maneuver by itself.(we get one more seating space freed up that way)

[HyperHacker]

I'm sure that's the idea. The cars are the robots.
"Run Sunny run"

That will be cool, but up to a point, think about it you will be tracked very easily by uncle Sam.
Pfft, you think the government needs to sell you a robotic car to track you?

[chongy5]

Yeah this will happen, like the fact that we would be on Mars by 2000 and have several colonies on the moon.

[joseph5]

According to the TV series the Time Tunnel (1967-8), the US sent men to Mars in 1978.

[celtic_druid]

Am I the only one who enjoys driving? I don't even like automatic gear boxes.

[linx05]

Would this mean you could drink and drive and not be a bloody idiot? (a joke from an Aussie anti-drink driving ad).

[HyperHacker]

Yeah this will happen, like the fact that we would be on Mars by 2000 and have several colonies on the moon.
Don't forget about the flying cars in every garage.

Am I the only one who enjoys driving? I don't even like automatic gear boxes.
Depends. Driving on the highway? Sure, that can be nice. Backroads? Wheeee. Crowded city? Oh hell no.

[jay2000]

Lets hope they will be cheap