Identify a location on the map and set the route! After years of research and testing, Google unveiled the prototype of its driver-less concept car. Here’s our take on it.
The Google car is an autonomous or driver-less car (as it is commonly called) run by a software called Google Chauffeur. Google’s robotic car has about $150,000 in equipment including a $70,000 lidar (light radar) system. The range finder mounted on the top is a Velodyne 64-beam laser. This laser allows the vehicle to generate a detailed 3D map of its environment. The car then takes these generated maps and combines them with high-resolution maps of the world, producing different types of data models that allow it to drive itself.
The conceptualized vehicle has no pedals, steering wheel and gases and runs at a maximum speed of 40 km/hr.
This makes us think of the tomorrow, where the roads are hurled by the Google toys and driving is just an option or waste of your time.
But the question arises, is it as game changing as Google thinks ?
It may be beneficial for senior citizens and the disabled people but it cannot be a substitute to human driving as it gives no option to do so. Moreover, it is run by software. That means, a person sitting in any corner of this globe, can take control of your vehicle and reroute you anywhere. A bug in the code can prove to be devastating to many lives! Will it be wise enough to automate yourself in a closed box ran by a code’s will?
Another issue that arises is the liability. When a vehicle such as this gets into an accident-would it be the fault of the passenger, the owner or the manufacturer? Many laws related to transportation, recovery and human life need to be transformed and reformulated!
The recently unveiled computer vehicle can also be seen as another way of Google to gather the public data, passenger’s habits, location, who he talks to etc. This may lead to many more legal and privacy issues.
This prototype may remain as a game like other flop high rated Google products or may be a game changer of the present scenario if it shakes hands with Tesla or some other cool automobile brand!
Whatever may be legal or privacy issues, the all new Google product is successful as always, in generating the hype and hopes. We now look forward for the release of its price which will be another and a bigger definition of its affordability.
