The car can see and talk; therefore, none is required to control it by pressing the buttons of any remote. The next generation vehicle, completely computer controlled, is on the roads of Berlin, Germany now.
Researchers of Free University have been examining every details of this car around the German capital since the summer.
The vehicle is equipped with a classy combination of devices, including a computer, electronics and a precision satellite navigation system in the trunk, laser scanners on the roof and around the front and rear bumpers and a camera in the front.
On Friday at a presentation, Raul Rojas, the head of the university’s research group for artificial intelligence, told reporters that
“The vehicle can recognize other cars on the road, pedestrians, buildings and trees up to 70 meters around it and even see if the traffic lights ahead are red or green and react accordingly.”
“In fact, the car’s recognition and reaction to its environment is much faster than a human being’s reaction,” he added.
Several other companies including Google are also working on such technology. Google is working to deliver a robotic Toyota Prius in Nevada.
However, Mr. Dudenhoeffer, a professor for automotive economics at the University of Duisburg-Essen, thinks they need some more years to make the product available for consumers.
“Even today’s cars are often partially computer-controlled, for example when it comes to parking or emergency brakes.”
He indicated some possible disadvantages of this driverless vehicle, as he said,
“Who will be responsible when there’s an accident the owner or the passenger of the computer-controlled car or the company that produced it?”
