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