# Driverless Cars Researchers Have Working Prototype By Going Like Sixty | Published 2008-02-28 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/driverless-cars-coming-soon-researchers-have-working-prototype References: [newlaunches](http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/working_prototype_of_the_driverless_car_developed.php) News from the 1958: Driverless cars coming soon. News from 2008: Driverless cars coming soon. A bunch of engineers at [Southwest Research Institute](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/southwest-airline) have cobbled together a bazillion dollars worth of gear to move a car through an obstacle course. Watch for the driverless car in your showrooms in 3018. **Implications** - City planners have always looked to autonomous, self-driving vehicles as the answer to solve traffic congestion in metropolitan cities of the future, and innovative designers are finally creating [prototypes to test current technology](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-hypercar-prototype). Unlike the flying cars promised to future citizens during the 50s, the modern concepts for [autonomous vehicles communicate with each other](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-driving-system) and don't require driver input. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.7/10 - Popularity: 31% | Activity: 43% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Autonomous Vehicles:** The rise of autonomous vehicles has the potential to revolutionize the transportation industry by reducing the need for human drivers. - **Connected Cars:** The development of connected cars allows autonomous vehicles to communicate with one another and make more efficient use of the roadways. - **Mobility as a Service:** As autonomous vehicles become more prevalent, new business models are emerging that provide transportation as a service rather than individual ownership in industries such as ride-sharing and logistics. ### Who This Affects Most - **Automotive:** The automotive industry stands to benefit from the development of autonomous vehicles, as it opens up new markets and disrupts traditional models of car manufacturing and ownership. - **Transportation and Logistics:** The transportation and logistics industry will be transformed as autonomous vehicles become more prevalent, leading to increased efficiency and reduced costs for shippers and carriers. - **Technology:** The technology industry will play a critical role in the development and innovation of autonomous vehicles, providing the software and hardware necessary to make self-driving cars a reality. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Hybrid Design Commuter Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robotic-city-car.md) - [Streamlined Two-Seater Electric Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-electric-car-concept.md) - [Autonomous Vehicle Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tensor-robocar.md) - [Luxury Self-Driving Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drive-pilot.md) - [TV-Equipped Autonomous Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-pod-concept.md) - [Self-Driving Electric Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rimac.md) - [Transforming Autonomous Transportation Pods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arrival-chemie.md) - [Flying Car Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flying-car-concepts.md) - [Open-Air Autonomous Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/polestar-adaptor.md)