Just to Keep things rolling . . .let's talk about AI
We might as well take a quick glance at the future of transportation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advances in robotics are very near to becoming functioning parts the world of practical transportation technologies . With global positioning systems (GPS) satellite plus other innovative and world changing technologies trains, cargo ships, and maybe even 18-wheelers and passenger cars may soon only need human drivers in chaotic urban environments, and will be fully competent on auto-pilot on the open road.
This technology is very real, in existence, and only awaits safety and similar human concerns to go into use. A robotic vehicle, named "stanley" (built by a team at Stanford University)recently completed a 132 mile desert course completely autonomously. If these vehicles can navigate the rocks and gullies of the desert, a robotic car that can "keep it between the lines" and avoid collisions by communicating with or sensing other vehicles isn't far fetched at all. Some scientists even think that robotic drivers might be safer than human ones. Right now some are working on driver prompting systems to prevent human drivers from having accidents.
So keep you eyes on the road, because, in the not too distant future, it might be your own car honking at your bad driving, and not the other drivers. But maybe you'll put up with it because when you take a long trip instead of roadmaps and coffee, you may only need a good book and a pillow. Talk about your backseat drivers.
Would you ride in a car driven by a robot?
Take a look at http://www.aaai.org/AITopics/html/transp.html if you have time. It's some amazing stuff.
