1. Future TransportationOptionsAutonomous MotoringBy Adam FragoulesAUTO480

2. In the beginningFollowing the end of the world war 2.America was enjoying the spoils of war.Industry was booming and the newly builtexpressways began covering the land. 3. A very hot cold warAdapting Germantechnology theallies ushered inthe age of the rocketand with it thespace race.The race wouldconsume all ofAmericas interestand it showed injust about everyconsumer product.The automobilewould celebratethis the most. 4. Its more than design its a lifestyleWith theadvancement in cardesign, the publicwanted their lifestylesto match.If the design was goingto be futuristicshouldnt the waythey drive be so too?Everything fromheadlamps totransmissions werebecoming automatic.Yet the driver still hadthe chore of operatingthe car. Driving was solast century. 5. With the celebrationand showcasing oftechnology at theworldsfairs, manufacturesbegan selling a dreamto the public.That dream was ofarriving on time withcare free travels.Being able to travel atover 100 miles perhour without brakinga sweat and beingable to relax andenjoy the company ofyour family. 6. How to do itMany proposals surfaced overthe years as the imaginationsof designers and technologygrew.Remote controlled cars wereone idea. The driver wouldsimply get his vehicle to theroad and then hand overcontrol to a control towersimilar to that at an airport.Another used magnets buriedin the roadway that the carhomed in on.A simpler idea was anadaptation of rails from arailway that a car could rideon or could be steered bydriving over. This idea issimilar to carnival rides forchildren. 7. On the backburnerAmericas involvementin world affairs broughton the technology raceand anotherinvolvement would endit.A fuel crisis brought theeconomic giant to a halt.The thought of excesswas traded forthriftiness and with itthe idea of self drivingcars would fall out of thelimelight. 8. Down butnot outThe aerospace industrywould be the driverlesscars saving grace.Advancements incommunications,controls, and positioningtools were allowingaircraft to basically flythemselves and ininstances be controlledfrom the ground.With almost 30 years oftrial and error, thetechnology was refined,made smaller, andaffordable. It was nowwithin reach of automanufacturers. 9. Government backingAutonomous vehicles can domore than ferry a family to themall.The government sees driverlessvehicles patrolling ourborders, performingreconnaissance, unmannedrescue, and other inherentlydangerous tasks.Through grants the governmenthas promoted research in thefield of autonomous vehiclesand hosts challenges toshowcase technologies andgauge viability. 10. Currently there aremanufactures andcompanies authorized tohave test fleets ofautonomous vehicles onpublic roads.One company aims to havedriverless cars on the roadavailable to the public infive years but a morerealistic time frame puts itto around 2025.They would not be producinga car but the equipment toretrofit an existing car tothat of one that could driveitself.There are many hurdles toovercome. Liability, publicperception, cost, andapplicability are just someto name a few. 11. Baby stepsManufactures are all trying tofigure out ways to change over tothe technology, but how to do sowith a seamless product while stillbeing affordable is just not yetavailable.Volvo proposes an idea to getthings going, hoping to gain publicsupport and prove the technology.Using radar to control thefollowing distance of the car and alittle computer algorithm, theybelieve that they can have theroadways accident free within acouple of years.Cars would link up withcommercial trucks and stack upinto a chain of cars. The truckwould control the steering of andset the pace for the cars while theradar on the cars kept everythingneat and spaced out. 12. Technology show case1)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jQ1U9KZfWg2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl1UMfxa_r43)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pl_Pont_Zk4)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R9hr5WQYAk 13. So whats the hang up?Cons:IndividualityControlBugsCost $$$Compatibility- what age group, what model year of car..?Legality- who will be held responsible when something goeswrong?YOU!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHMA5lwqt2shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHVBoS9CzSQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qds0F4c2x4Ahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZaBdamqAPshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=m6ZwS9izm4EDont Stop Believin 14. Kilometers are shorterthan miles. Save gas,take your next trip inkilometers- George Carlin