Emerging Technology

Fully Automated Vehicles

While still quite far in the future, the ultimate in “driving convenience” for many would be the proverbial “car that drives itself.” While the joy of driving is unmatched on a winding mountain road on a sunny day, daily driving is an experience that typically fatigues, frustrates, and frazzles us as drivers. To have the alternative

of handing control of the vehicle over to a trustworthy technology agent is quite attractive. Prototype vehicles of this type have been developed and demonstrated, and professionals knowledgeable in automotive technology generally agree that self-driving cars are inevitable some time within the next few decades.

Intelligent Vehicle (IV) systems sense the driving environment and provide information or vehicle control to assist the driver in optimal vehicle operation. IV systems operate at the tactical level of driving (throttle, brakes, steering) as contrasted with strategic decisions such as route choice, which might be supported by an on-board navigation system. IV systems are seen as a next generation beyond current active safety systems, which provide relatively basic control assist but do not sense the environment or assess risk. Antilock braking systems, traction control, and electronic stability control are examples of such systems, (Shladover, 1998)

Electronic components in the trunk of a Buick LeSabre platoon vehicle. 
(The Regents of the University of California, 2010)

The range of applications for IV systems is quite broad and applies to all types of  road vehicles include cars, heavy trucks, and transit buses. While there is some overlap between the functions, and the underlying technology can in some cases support many functions at once, IV applications can generally be classified into four categories: convenience, safety, productivity, and traffic assist, (Shladover, 1998)

This evolution relies on one major factor in that the vehicle automation systems must be exceedingly robust and reliable. The public must have the same confidence in automated vehicles that they have now in elevators, for instance. The systems must be many times more robust than our personal computers. The vehicles must behave in ways that make sense to the occupants to earn their trust. Further, they must see a clear benefit in safety, mobility, or convenience in order to invest in such systems.

When these systems were first introduced, they were called Automated Highway Systems because of the assumption that the system intelligence would be shared between the vehicle and the infrastructure. Research began in the late 1950's along these lines and continued intermittently into the early 1990's. At that time, the 

research focus began to shift toward increasing intelligence within the vehicle, due to the rapid evolution of information processing systems and sensor technology, such that by the end of that decade it was clear that the roadway would play a largely passive role, (Bin, 2003)

When the technology is ready in terms of cost and performance, automated vehicles can most likely be introduced to the market with no changes required of the roadway at all. To increase robustness, magnetic markers may be added, particularly in areas of severe winters in which the painted lane markers can be obscured by snow and ice.

In the long term, roadway operators do play a key role unrelated to highway electronics by providing dedicated lanes for automation vehicle operation. In this way, the maximum traffic flow benefits are achieved. If we could start with segregated lanes in the first place, the technical challenges would be lessened, as all 

vehicles would be communicating and under computer control, (Bin, 2003)

For passenger cars, however, the most viable deployment path calls for operation in mixed traffic initially, until market penetration reaches levels that justify lane dedication. For trucks and transit buses, however, the case can be made for segregated lanes, (Blosseville, 2004). In fact, given what we know now, a likely scenario for automated vehicles would be dedicated lane operations with the following technology package:

• Surround sensing (already on vehicle for precursor safety systems)

• Lane detection augmented by magnetic markers in road for severe winter areas

• “Drive-by-wire” technology for electronic actuation of throttle, brakes, and steering

• Inter-vehicle communication

• Communication between vehicles and a traffic operations center for flow management

• Operation on a dedicated lane

(Blosseville, 2004)

Fully automated vehicles for specialized applications were successfully deployed in the 1990s. Mine-hauling trucks were equipped for unmanned operation by Komatsu in Australia, servicing large tracts of open pit mining, and the port of Rotterdam implemented shuttle vehicles for moving freight containers from shipside to storage areas. For people-moving, Frog Navigation Systems implemented the ParkShuttle, a “horizontal elevator” concept to carry people from satellite parking to the terminal at Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport. Additional systems have since been deployed, and new types of services are emerging as well, (Blosseville, 2004).

In-vehicle display for PATH automated vehicles at Demo ’97. 
(The Regents of the University of California, 2010)

Attitudes Toward Automated Vehicle Operations

Various surveys have been conducted regarding user acceptance of, and concerns about, automated vehicle operation. In general, though, such surveys suffer from the limitation that the respondents have not experienced such a system. Given this caveat, some results are nevertheless interesting.

During 2000-2001, the U.K. Highways Agency funded a study to assess user acceptance of Autonomous Highway Systems (AHS), including people’s reasons for or against such a system. Three basic stages were presented to survey participants: enhanced driver information, driver assistance with partial vehicle control, and fully automated control. A total of 646 interviews were performed, of which 20% were with either heavy truck or motorcoach drivers, (Pickup & Fereday, 2001)

Not surprisingly, two clear groups emerged: those who accept relinquishing control to the vehicle and those who do not. This type of opposition is a philosophical stance that will not be addressed with information, only through experience with proven systems.

54% of the participants could envision such a system, 22% were a “maybe,” and 24% did not see it happening. If such a system did come into being, 60% said they would use it, 24% were a “maybe,” and 15% responded negatively. The respondents who accepted the concept of a fully automated highway saw the benefits as reduced road congestion, uniform speed, and greater certainty and predictability of trip times. Within the total group, four main concerns were voiced regarding Automation in Highway Systems: system reliability, surrendering control, cost to the government (i.e impact on their taxes), and the personal cost of purchasing a system, (Pickup & Fereday, 2001)

The ultimate goal for a driver assistance system is intelligent perception, (i.e., the ability of the machine to understand a driving scene and assess maneuver options as effectively as a human driver). As we noted early on, in some ways the machine is innately superior, in providing 360 degree fatigue free sensing and lightening fast actuation. However, between sensing and actuation is the key step of judgment. Human judgment is far superior to the machine and will probably remain so for a long time. However, over time, it is achievable to for IV systems to approach the domain of making appropriate judgments for most driving situations.

For driver support, there are areas of subtlety beyond simply sensing obstacles in the vehicle’s path. Ideally, future systems will be capable of assessing the intentions of other drivers and the hints we pick up as a vehicle pulls alongside us in the adjacent lane, as we see the driver looking for a gap to change into our lane. For instance, when this happens, we are more prepared to respond to their next move. One day, all intentions will be communicated in data streams between vehicles, but many years will pass before this is the case 100% of the time. Our vehicle systems will perform more effectively if they can sense cues such as this.

References:

Shladover, S. (1998). “Lessons Learned from Demo ’97 on Cooperative and Autonomous Systems".

 unpublished.

Bin, L. (2003). “Intelligent Vehicle and Highway in China,” Proceedings of the 7th International Task Force on Vehicle-Highway Automation, Paris. Retrieved from: www.IVsource.net.

Pickup, L., and Fereday, D. (2001). “User Attitudes to Automated Highway systems in the UK: Results and Conclusions,” presented at User Attitudes to Automated Highway Systems Seminar and Workshop, February 5 - 6, 2001, London, England.

Blosseville, J. M. (2004).“Truck Automation Deployment Studies in France". Retrieved from: www.IVsource.net.

The Regents of the University of California. (2010). "Berkeley Partners for Advanced Transportation TecHnology (PATH) Program". Retrieved from: http://www-path.eecs.berkeley.edu

DEBATE: ONLINE SHOPPING (For VS Against)

Advantages

1) Convenience

You do not have to wait in a line or wait till the shop assistant is ready to help you with your purchases. You can do your shopping in minutes even if you are busy apart from saving time and avoiding crowds. Online shops give us the opportunity to shop 24 x 7 and also reward us with a ‘no pollution’ shopping. There is no better place to buy information products like e-books. Immediately after the payment is made one can download the information. And downloadable items purchased online eliminate the need for any kind of material goods at all. In comparison to a physical store with fixed hours, online shoppers can choose any time of the day or night to get on the Web and shop. This is especially useful for moms with small children, people that are home-bound, or simply in times of inclement weather.

2) Better Prices

What fascinates me are the cheap deals and better prices I get from online stores because products come to you direct from the manufacturer or seller without a middlemen involved. Many online shops offer discount coupons and rebates. Apart from this, the Online Store is only required to collect sales tax if they have a physical location in our state even if we buy from a store across the world.

3) Variety and Infinite Choice

The choices you can get for products are amazing. One can get several brands and products from different sellers at one place. You can get in on the latest international trends without spending money on airfare. When you shop online, you can shop from retailers in other parts of the country or even the world without being limited by geographic area. These stores offer a far greater selection of colors and sizes than you will find locally. Apart from that, How many times have it happened that you spend your money reaching a local shop only to find that the product you need is out of stock? Some online shops have a provision to accept orders without stock and ship it across to you when the stock becomes available. You also have the option of taking your business to another online store where the product is available.

4) Send Gifts

Online Shopping makes sending gifts to relatives and friends easy, no matter where ever they stay. Now there is no need of making distance an excuse for not sending a gift on occasions like Birthday, Wedding Anniversary, Marriage, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day etc.

5) Comparison of Prices

Online shops make comparison and research of products and prices possible. Online stores also give you the ability to share information and reviews with other shoppers who have first-hand experience with a product or retailer. Also, when you visit a store, you most likely have to settle for whatever price the vendor has placed on a particular item. Not so with online shopping - you have the ability to compare prices from hundreds of different vendors, i.e priceme.co.nz.

6) Fewer Expenses

Many times when we opt for conventional shopping we tend to spend a lot more than the required shopping expenses on things like eating out, traveling, impulsive shopping etc. Also, the overall cost of setting up maintaining and

7) Avoid the Crowds

If you are like me, you would like to avoid the crowds when you do the shopping. Especially during Festivals and Special events the crowds can really give a head ache. Crowds force us to do a hurried shopping most of the time. For me grumpy or irritating people and those who smell bad are a huge turn off. Crowds also create a problem when it comes to finding a parking place nearby where you want to shop and going back to your vehicle later loaded with shopping bags.

8) Compulsive Shopping

Many times when we go out on Shopping we end up buying things which we do not require because of the shop keepers up selling skills. Sometimes we even compromise on our choices because of the lack of choices in those shops.

9) Buying Old or unused Stuff at low prices

Online Shops make it possible for us to buy old or unused stuff at rock bottom prices. If we want to buy antiques there is no better options than online stores.

10) Discreet Purchases

Some things are better done in privacy. Online shops are also best for discreet purchases like adult toys, sexy lingerie and so on. Online Shops enable me to purchase under garments and lingerie without the embarrassment that there are several people watching me and my choices.

11) Easy access to consumer reviews

 It's easy to access consumer reviews for pretty much any product you can think of online, which makes for more informed purchases.

12) No pressure sales

We've all been awkwardly propositioned by eager salespeople. You don't have to put up with that online.

13) Online coupons and sales

You may want to do a search for store coupons. I have used bigbigsavings, but there are many others out there, including some coupons and savings codes at the actual website.

14) Returns

Many online stores offer free returns (meaning, they will send you a return label so you can sent the item that doesn’t fit, etc. back to them at no cost to you.)

15) Flexible payment options

You have a variety of payment options, i.e redit You don’t have to have a ton of money on you…just a credit card and whatever is required on their online form (usually address, perhaps phone number and/or e-mail address).

16) 24 hours shopping

As the internet is readily available, you are able to shop at anytime at your convenience.

17) Very comfortable

Because you are shopping from the convenience of your home, you are in your comfort zone.

18) Less pollution

Zero travelling means that you are actively reducing pollution, i.e by way of transport.

19) Time management

As you have online shopping available to you at your fingertips, you save time on travelling, bargain shopping, finding parking etc.

20) Save on Travel

No traveling required. You don’t have to drive or take public transportation, park, deal with mall traffic, bad weather, etc.