Principal Investigator Bryan Reimer
Consortium Multi-Sponsored Program (MSP)
The concept of automating vehicles and removing the driver from direct control of the throttle, brake, and steering wheel was first explored nearly 100 years ago. Over the decades since, automation of various features has gradually infiltrated the automobile. Today, on the heels of the DARPA Urban Challenge and Google’s Self-Driving Car Project, we are closer than ever to realizing aspirations of a century ago, but challenges remain. This talk will center on elements of what is known about automation in the vehicle today and our evolution towards self-driving. Topics will include: observations on the use of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and production level automated driving features (Autopilot, Pilot Assist, Super Cruise, etc.); the shifting nature of what we do in modern vehicles, challenging what is today’s distraction - secondary tasks or driving; and key points to consider regarding the future of robots on our roads. How might the intersection of artificial intelligence embodied in one the most complex activities humans perform - intersect with society’s demand for economical, efficient and safe mobility? How can human factors insight, psychological research, and policy leadership help to accelerate innovations that will someday change how we live and move? How fast might the automated, electrified future of mobility really take hold?