Why are moral decisions so important for self-driving cars?

Self-driving cars are in the news again, after several surveys were released showing how people would want their computer-controlled car to react in a situation where it has to decide whether to save the driver or pedestrians.

Most survey results suggested the driver would want to limit the amount of casualties, though we have seen sometimes that humans do not choose that option and end up killing more people to save themselves.

Nevertheless, the surveys appear to be a mandate for autonomous car developers to program a system to limit the amount of casualties. But is it possible we’re overthinking this function of autonomous cars?

Fatal accidents where the human can decide what to do are incredibly rare and are likely to be even rarer when self-driving eliminates drunk and tired drivers and turns off malfunctioning motors.

On top of that, Google has already patented a car hood that sticks pedestrians to it, which could prevent serious injuries if someone walks in front of the car at the wrong time. We are bound to see even more innovative solutions in the next four years, as automakers prepare to launch their first autonomous cars.

Can it just be coded to avoid harming humans?

With the additional safety from self-driving, we should be asking if programming life-and-death decisions is necessary. Why not instead work towards a world where cars don’t harm humans, or at least where the car protects both the driver and pedestrian from fatal injuries at all times.

It sounds like a dream world, with 32,000 car deaths in 2014, but McKinsey & Company expects that to fall to 3,200 as self-driving cars become commonplace. The 90 percent decrease does not include improvements to traffic, roads, and car safety that we are going to see in the next 10 years, three things that may reduce deaths to the hundreds for the first time since 1908.

We also need to take into consideration the massive reduction in accidents that are not fatal, estimated at 5.4 million in 2010, which could be stopped with self-driving.

That may not be enough for some, but if self-driving is able to save 30,000 deaths in a year, I think it’s worth the potential “moral” risks that come attached with it.

Google not embarrassed to self-drive Fiat Chrysler minivan

Google has announced a partnership with Fiat Chrysler, which will double the size of the company’s autonomous fleet to 200 cars.

Fiat will provide 100 Chrysler Pacifica vans to Google. The vans will be fitted with all of Google’s autonomous technology and will join the other 100 cars in California for road testing.

The two companies claim this is the “most advanced” partnership between Silicon Valley and a traditional automotive company.

“The opportunity to work closely with Fiat engineers will accelerate our efforts to develop a fully self-driving car that will make our roads safer,” said John Krafcik, Google’s head of self-driving cars.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) CEO Sergio Marchionne has been a bit of a pessimist towards Silicon Valley in the past, calling them “disruptive interlopers” and questioning the capability of a company like Google to make a good car.

Google unlikely to get into car-making

We doubt Google will build its own vehicles when driverless cars are permitted on the roads, instead working with a small selection of automotive companies. Fiat is in a powerful position to be the primary manufacturer of autonomous cars that use Google’s technology.

“FCA will design the minivans so it’s easy for us to install our self-driving systems, including the computers that hold our self-driving software and the sensors that enable our software to see what’s on the road around the vehicle,” said Google’s self-driving team.

Toyota was the first automotive company to partner with Google, providing 70 Lexus cars in 2014, but this sounds like a much closer partnership between the two companies.

We’re bound to see more partnerships like this in the next few years, as automotive manufacturers choose between Google’s established self-driving platform and their own in-house system. Ford, General Motors, and Toyota have all been linked in the past to Google, but all three have yet to make any official collaboration announcements.

Faraday Future to test autonomous cars in Michigan

Autonomous startup Faraday Future wants to begin testing its prototype car in Michigan, in addition to testing its vehicles in California and another undisclosed city.

The application was confirmed by the director of Michigan’s Department of Transportation, Kirk Steudle, who told Detroit News that the San Francisco-based firm asked for guidance on how to apply for plates in January, and has since applied for three plates.

A representative from Faraday Future did not confirm if the tests were for autonomous cars.

“The plates will be used to help test various FF-vehicle prototypes and features,” said Faraday in a statement. “We cannot comment on the specifics of those tests at this time.”

Manufacturer plates are required to test cars, both autonomous and regular, in Michigan. Automakers can use plates from other states, though most obtain plates directly from the transportation department.

Faraday Future debuted at CES this January

Faraday Future made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year, revealing a futuristic autonomous, electric car that shared design similarities with the Batmobile. Sadly, the concept car appears to be just that — a concept — and one that Faraday is not planning to introduce to the market anytime soon.

The company has been ramping up its workforce since, with 700 employees and in April purchased a $1 billion, 3 million square foot facility in Las Vegas to begin manufacturing. It is rumored to be looking at a second facility in Vallejo, a city in California.

All of this is paid for by LeEco founder Jia Yueting, who owns significant stock in Faraday Future. Yueting’s company is also working on its own autonomous, electric car, which he unveiled at a conference last month.

Faraday Future appears to be speeding ahead, but questions surround the secretive company, including the company’s finances, roadmap, and the name of its anonymous CEO.

Michigan invests millions for driverless car testing

Last Tuesday, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced its approval of a $3 million grant to fund a driverless car testing facility in Ypsilanti. This performance-based grant went to the American Center for Mobility (ACM), who plan on using the space formerly occupied by a General Motors (GM) powertrain factory closed since 2010.

Autonomous cars have been a trending topic  since development began. Advocates of this technology assert that it promises to make transportation safer, faster, and more enjoyable than current conventional vehicles. However, before widespread use can become a reality, these self-driving cars must be thoroughly tested in both real-world and controlled testing settings. ACM plans to use the Willow Run center as a test track for a variety of situations, such as the high-speed traffic of a modern highway.

ACM plans to use the Willow Run center as a test track for a variety of situations, such as the high-speed traffic of a modern highway.

Michigan invests now but it’s only the first step

The MEDC hopes to reinvigorate the waning domestic automotive industry with this and other self-driving vehicle initiatives. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has emphasized the importance of the project. “Michigan is proud of its auto heritage, but our goal is to be the leader in this industry for generations to come,” he said. “We need to stay on the cutting edge of technology connected with our vehicles.”

This initial grant will cover a number of early-phase costs for the center, including property acquisition, professional due diligence, and start-up support for the ACM. The facility will require an estimated total of $79 million before it will be fully functional and ready for self-driving vehicle testing. While ACM intends to secure roughly $59 million in federal funding, the center will reportedly also seek a further $17 million from the state.

Built by Ford in 1942, Willow Run started life as a production plant for B-24 bombers. After the war, the site was converted to manufacture a variety of other items with a major focus on automobiles. In 2010, Willow Run – then owned by GM – ceased production. Since then, its once-busy assembly facility has been used as a storage warehouse.