Ep 10. Dawn of the Driverless Car
- June 29, 2017
In Horizon season 2017 episode 10, "Dawn of the Driverless Car," viewers are taken on a journey through the world of autonomous vehicles. With the promise of reducing congestion, lowering emissions, and increasing safety, the race to develop self-driving cars is on.
The episode starts with a look at the history of autonomous vehicles, from the first prototypes to the present day. We see footage of early experiments in the 1980s and 90s, when self-driving cars were clunky, slow, and unreliable. But as the technology improved, so too did the promise of a future where human-driven cars would be a thing of the past.
Viewers then meet some of the pioneers of the self-driving car industry, including engineers at Google, Uber, and Tesla. They explain how their companies are pushing the envelope in terms of autonomous technology, using everything from machine learning algorithms to high-tech sensors and cameras. We see the development process up close, as engineers fine-tune their systems to be as safe and effective as possible.
One of the key challenges of self-driving cars is how they'll interact with the humans around them. To illustrate this, the show takes viewers to a small town in the UK where a fleet of self-driving delivery vans have been deployed. The vans are tasked with making deliveries to residents' doorsteps, but it quickly becomes clear that not everyone is comfortable with the idea. Some people are wary of the vehicles, while others are excited by the potential benefits.
As autonomous vehicles become more common, there are also concerns about what will happen to the millions of people who make their living driving cars, trucks, and taxis. The show explores this issue by speaking with both truck drivers and taxi drivers who worry about being replaced by machines. But the episode also points out that self-driving cars have the potential to create new jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Of course, safety is a major concern when it comes to self-driving cars. The show discusses some of the high-profile accidents that have occurred in recent years, including the fatal crash involving a Tesla Model S on autopilot. We hear from safety experts who stress the importance of developing fail-safe systems that can prevent accidents from happening in the first place.
To illustrate this, the show takes viewers to a testing facility where engineers are subjecting self-driving cars to a battery of rigorous tests. These tests include everything from driving in bad weather to dealing with unexpected obstacles. We see the cars navigate hairpin turns and avoid obstacles like barrels and cones with ease, thanks to their sophisticated onboard systems.
Overall, "Dawn of the Driverless Car" presents a balanced view of the self-driving car industry, weighing the potential benefits against the risks and challenges. It's a fascinating look at one of the most exciting technological developments of our time, and a glimpse into the future of transportation.
