Though the software developer has managed to keep the project (mostly) under wraps, the Google Autonomous Car is bolting down main streets, mountain paths, crowded highways and even picking up passengers as I type.
Though it may be heralded as the death knell of conventional driving, the Google Autonomous Car is actually just a modified Toyota Prius. But don't let its subtle, innocuous looks deceive you! The rotating lens installed on the vehicle's roof gives the onboard computer the ability to detect pedestrians, other cars and the status of traffic lights. Professor Sebastian Thrun, who oversees the project, claims the automaton isn't ready for market availability, though it seems to drive without incident. Thrun is optimistic that the Google Autonomous Car will alleviate the worst symptoms of driving: Congestion, collisions and even fuel consumption. At one point, it may even become socially unacceptable to drive -- the computer does it safer and better!
What's Driving This Trend
- Autonomous Cars
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the automotive industry to develop and improve autonomous car technology.
- Connected Vehicles
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the tech and transportation industries to create connected vehicles that communicate with each other and with traffic infrastructure.
- Ride-sharing Services
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the transportation and sharing economy industries to create autonomous ride-sharing services that provide convenient and efficient transportation options.
Who This Affects Most
- Automotive Industry
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the automotive industry to transform the way cars are designed, manufactured, and used.
- Technology Industry
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the technology industry to develop advanced sensors, machine learning algorithms, and artificial intelligence that power autonomous vehicles.
- Transportation Industry
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the transportation industry to create new business models and services centered around autonomous vehicles and connected mobility.
