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German Auto Firms Face Roadblock In Testing Driverless Car Software
An anonymous reader writes As nations compete to build the first operational autonomous car, German auto-manufacturers fear that current domestic laws limit their efforts to test the appropriate software for self-driving vehicles on public roads. German carmakers are concerned that these roadblocks are allowing U.S. competitors, such as Google, to race ahead in their development of software designed to react effectively when placed in real-life traffic scenarios. Car software developers are particularly struggling to deal with the ethical challenges often raised on the road. For example when faced with the decision to crash into a pedestrian or another vehicle carrying a family, it would be a challenge for a self-driving car to follow the same moral reasoning a human would in the situation. 'Technologically we can do fully automated self-driving, but the ethical framework is missing,' said Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn.
The trucking industry would absolutely love to do away with hundreds of thousands of long-haul drivers.
At least in America, the drivers are the trucking industry. When you see an 18 wheeler on the freeway, the chances are very high that the truck is owned by the guy driving it.
Who owns the trailers and the merchandise? It's usually not the owner of the tractor.
Who pays the trucker? The owner of the merchandise or the trailer.
Don't forget, lots and lots of large retailers maintain their own over-the-road fleet. Sears/Kmart, Walmart, Target, Costco, Kroger, Safeway, Autozone, and that's only a drop in the bucket. They could all retrofit to an automated tractor, or at least where a pilot car or truck escorts a caravan of autonomous trucks following behind.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.