If you’re 65 years old this year, you witnessed nearly the complete evolution of the automobile in the United States. In the 1950’s automobiles became affordable for the average family and a number of vehicles grew exponentially.
Safety advancements have included windshield safety glass, seat-belts, crush zones and airbags. Today’s automobiles are remarkably safe.
Vehicles are far more friendly to our environment as well. The vehicle emissions have dropped considerably, and new standards have created cars that run on gasoline, diesel fuel, hydrogen, natural gas, electricity and even used vegetable oil. Every year automobiles become more efficient.
Amazingly, the last evolution of the automobile as we know it will be the elimination of the driver.
Self driving cars are coming sooner than you think.
Self driving automobiles as a concept isn’t new. The film Minority Report from 2002 showed them in action in the year 2054. The truth is that we will see self driving automobiles much sooner, and the beginning of the self driving trend as soon as next year.
The self driving revolution will begin with safety features. Before anyone is going to trust a computer as their chauffeur, they must first trust the decision-making abilities with their personal safety. The first computer automated features we will see have already hit the market. Anti-lock brakes have been around for more than a decade, allowing drivers to stop efficiently in an emergency. Some cars are currently available with sensors that can engage the brake based on the distance between your vehicle and the car in front. Alert monitors can see things in your blind spot and backup cameras (which will soon be mandatory) aid drivers while in reverse.
Next, cars will be able to do the things we dislike most, such as parallel parking. Later, a button on your key fob, will order your car out of the garage and have it warm and waiting before you leave the house.
Cruise control will be able to steer as well as maintain speed, allowing drivers to take their hands off the wheel and navigate based on GPS.
Baby steps will result in a rapid trend from safety and convenience toward complete independence. Business and industry may be the first beneficiaries. Taxicabs and delivery vehicles could be far more efficient without paying drivers. Tractor-trailers will be able to travel in tandem inches apart, saving fuel and reducing accidents.
Believe it or not, the technology to make all of this happen is already in development. The industry doesn’t see self driving automobiles as a technological barrier. The biggest concern is how quickly will human beings adopt the technology.
Will seniors embrace self driven cars?
Traditionally, older Americans tend to be late adopters of technology. Email, Facebook and smart phones were embraced by young adults for before their parents embraced them.
This, however, could change with computer-driven cars. You see, seniors have much stronger need for self driven cars.
The natural course of aging unfortunately is counter to the skills required for safe driving. Our eyes gradually weeken, our hearing slips away, stamina and reaction times gradually diminish.
The first generation of safety features will help extend the years that seniors can continue to drive safely. Improving reaction times by using sensors and automatic braking will help prevent accidents. Additionally, improved navigation systems with voice activation will increase confidence when traveling to unfamiliar places.
Unfortunately, there is clearly a time when every human should stop driving, and today many seniors are reluctant to travel unsafely because the alternative means giving up freedom they’ve enjoyed for over 50 years.
Self driving cars, however, will offer a new sense of freedom.
In the future at the touch of a button your vehicle will pick you up, in your own driveway or near your own apartment. You’ll speak to the car and tell it where you’d like to go. The car will remember your favorites such as “my daughter’s house”, “church”, or the car could help you choose a good Chinese restaurant.
Your car will drop you off, then park itself nearby and wait for you to return. If you need assistance, simply ask the vehicle and it will call a friend, a store employee, or even emergency services.
If you stay out too late, have a few glasses of wine, or want to have a telephone call you’ll have no worries because your car can drive equally well in the dark, in any weather, and even predict the behavior of human drivers with whom you share the road.
Eventually, you’ll be telling your children they should have a “Robo-car” because you’re concerned for their safety.