google's driverless car project
TRANSCRIPT
Google’s Driverless Car Project
YIP, Chi Wai (Ray) (10414352)
LEUNG, Hong Kiu (Kimmy) (10238057)
YIU, Wing Hei (Adia) (10033500)
KAM, Xin’er Elissa (10466850)
CHIANG, Joan (10474223)
ENGG1150
Spring 2013
When life becomes so hectic that…
When such hectic turns out as tragedies
Imagine…
The Best of Both Worlds
Imagine no more…
Driverless cars proven in a race
Agenda
Technologies Behind
Benefits Self Others General Society
Adoption Challenges
Future Implication
Google Driverless Car Project
What? A project dedicated to development of driverless car technology
When? Informally since 2005 From 2010, by a formal team of 15 engineers from Google
Progress so far? Google currently lobbying for driverless car laws in more states in
the US Nevada as the 1st state having passed such law in mid-2011
(operation of driverless cars) Florida and California as the 2nd and 3rd state in early and late 2012
respectively (though limited to only testing purpose) First and only license issued in Nevada in early 2012 to a Google-
owned, modified Prius
Seeing is believing…
Google’s Driverless Car on TED by Sebastian Thrun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CyqfwStKZc
2:30 – 2:42
Technologies Behind
Devices involved
Laser sensor on the roof(1.5 million measurements per second)
Radar sensor in front and rear bumpers
GPS
Settings of driving personalities
Self-learning Program HD camera looking out and inward from the windshield
Map of the surroundings
No blind spot – e.g. pedestrian emerged from between two parked cars
Constant mapping
Effective and efficient parking
Use of sensor Measuring parking space available Determining if there is sufficient space Steering itself into the space In essence, automatic search for suitable parking space
within designated area, and then execution
Beyond “vision”
Proven
Lombok Street - one of the steepest and curviest streets worldwide
Benefits
1.Reduction in car accidents
Source: Annual Transport Digest 2012, Transport department
1.Reduction in car accidents
Source: Annual Transport Digest 2012, Transport department
1. Reduction in car accidents
Automated collision avoidance systems
Less fatalities
Avoid human errors
No sleepy, grumpy, texting humans
2.Optimal speed
Fuel efficient driving Saves 10-15% fuel
Environmentally friendly
3.Efficient use of highways
Two-second rule
Source: Wikipedia.org
3.Efficient use of highways
Closer car-to-car distance
Less need for building more road lanes
4.Increase in productivity
5. City Expansion
6. Application in various industry
Elimination of breaks in between
Lessen the burden of the truck drivers
Taxi industry??
7. Saving of parking space
Independently seek parking
Demand for adjacent parking decrease
Conversion to other land uses
8. Transportation will no longer be a hindrance
The previously excluded-The disabled -The elderly-Even the kids
Challenges
Cost IssueTotal cost: US$ 300,000
includes:•Laser system - $ 70,000•Hi-tech Equipment - $ 150,000
Estimated market of $ 2 Trillion in the US alone
OVERVALUED Market? Is it a US Opportunity?Or a GOOGLE Opportunity?
Sources: Forbes.com
Challenges
“Driverless car” still illegal in 50 states
But progress to accepting these cars is happening…
Nevada Department of Transportation: developing regulations to driverless cars with a goal for it to go mainstream
Challenges
Impacts on public transport industry
Impacts on Taxi/ Public transport industry
Challenges
Environmental Issues
More Cars on the road..
Challenges
Technology & Maintenance issues
Challenges
Technology & Privacy Issues
Challenges
Challenges
Technology & Privacy Issues
Challenges
Political & Regulatory Issues
who is to blame in an accident?
Google?Car Mechanics?Car Owner?Passenger?
Challenges
Political & Regulatory Issues
Can “passengers” be intoxicated?
Challenges
Social Issues
WHO can be the “driver”?Age Limits? Driving licenses?
Challenges
Social Issues
The “Joy of Driving”
Challenges
Social IssuesPsychological Barriers
Radical Concepts
Future Implication
Does the Innovation make the product more profitable?
Short Term- Difficult to make this innovation profitable as the technology requires expensive sensors, computing power and software.
- Market is still small needs time to grow- Issue of economies of scale
Long Term - Demand is higher. Automated driving means more people can use cars, and more cars can be fitted safely on roads.
More profitable because of cost saving- Cars don’t have to be as robust (Less accidents)- More time as passengers, so they are less aware of how well a car performs. (Manufacturers change focus)
Use of Wifi (incl. 3G) technology
Critical criteria(in order of significance)
Wifi Bluetooth
Range 300 feet+ ~30 feet
Security Higher(if configured properly)
Lower
Interconnectivity with relevant stakeholders
Higher (server/network concept)
Lower (device-to-device concept)
Cost Higher (yet acceptable)
Lower
Overall Better Worse
Disruptive Innovation…
Or sustaining transformational innovation?
Sources
No Hands, No Feet: My Unnerving Ride In Google's Driverless Car
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2013/03/21/no-hands-no-feet-my-unnerving-ride-in-googles-driverless-car/
Google Cars Drive Themselves, in Traffic
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/science/10google.html
Fasten Your Seatbelts: Google's Driverless Car Is Worth Trillions
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chunkamui/2013/01/22/fasten-your-seatbelts-googles-driverless-car-is-worth-trillions/
How Google's Self-Driving Car Works
http://jalopnik.com/5851324/how-googles-self+driving-car-works
Sources
How will driverless cars affect our cities?
http://cityminded.org/how-will-driverless-cars-affect-our-cities-6526
Look, no hands
http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21576224-one-day-every-car-may-come-invisible-chauffeur-look-no-hands
Fasten Your Seatbelts: Google's Driverless Car Is Worth Trillions
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chunkamui/2013/01/22/fasten-your-seatbelts-googles-driverless-car-is-worth-trillions/
How Google's Self-Driving Car Works
http://jalopnik.com/5851324/how-googles-self+driving-car-works
Appendix