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1. Cameras being challenged by sunlight - Strong + low angle sunlight challenge cameras 2. Laser Confusion - Lasers confuse by fog + snow 3. Different combinations of conditions - Hundreds of situations which a car might not recognize 4. Different environmental conditions - Self driving cars work better in simple, clean, and clear conditions which the weather and other environments clash with 5. Hackers - Hackers can break in the car and be in full control - Can cause many accidents 6. Data Problems - Many self driving cars need a lot of data to personalize everything for you - If anyone breaks in, hacks or even borrows the car, a lot of personal data is at risk

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- What happens if I let go of the steering wheel and it says that I need to hold on to it the whole time?
- What happens if the sun blocks the sensors?
- How fast are the reactions in the car? Can they stop at the right moment to avoid a crash?
- How good are they on the snow? Are they good drivers on the snow?
- How was it programmed? Did a professional create the program or just an average driver?
- If all the new cars are self-driving, what happens to the human-controlled cars?
- What if the sensors are wrong?
- Will it be able to recognize if it does something wrong?
- Will it stop if the police is behind it?

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~ Assistant Professor Majid Zamani
~ Leading Several Projects that explore the safety + security of self driving vehicles
~ Department of Computer Science
~ Part of Autonomous Systems Interdisciplinary Research Theme
~ University of Colorado Boulder
~Alexandra Le Moine (University of Boulder)

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Research Source #1 (Automated Vehicles for Safety) 

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Research Source #1 (Automated Vehicles for Safety) 

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~ Technology has advanced as vehicles with driver assistance technologies are very common
~ Driver assistance technologies help with avoiding crashes

~ Five Eras of Safety
~ 1950-2000: Safety Features (Seat belts, antilock brakes, etc.)
~ 2000-2010: Advanced Safety Features (Blind spot detection, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, etc.)
~ 2010-2016: Advanced Driver Assistance Features (Lane centering assist, rear cross traffic alert, pedestrian automatic emergency braking, etc.)
~ 2016-2025: Partially Automated Safety Features (Lane keeping assist, traffic jam assist)
~ 2025+: Fully Automated Safety Features

- Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) Automation Levels
~ 0-5 Levels
~ 0: Human controls car/does all the driving
~ 1-2: Advanced Diver assistance system (ADAS)
~ 3-5: Automated Driving System

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~ Human Influence on cars can lead to accidents and in most cases with crashes, the car was not at fault
~ Sometimes the technology freezes up like a computer, which leads to crashes as well

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Wouldn't it be great if your car could drive by itself, and all you had to do is tell it where to go? There are many advantages that self-driving cars can offer. Owning a car that can drive by itself would make all trips more comfortable, as you wouldn't have to keep your eyes on the road all the time. Also, while the car drives, you can spend your time more productively or entertainingly. The most important upside, however, would be a significant improvement in safety. And there would be no room for driver error, which accounts for most of the car accidents and traffic fatalities.

By now, you may have seen videos where various self-driving vehicles steer the car through the traffic with no visible problems, making you think this is possible. Still, it also makes us wonder why don't we see these cars driving around in the city streets already? Some will say the problem is within the law that requires drivers to pay attention at all times. Unfortunately, the problem is not that simple. There is more to it than just the legislation, as the current technology has its limitations. In this article, you will learn what these limitations are and what problems and potential dangers may come with self-driving vehicles.

Do self-driving cars really work?

To gain a better perspective about self-driving cars, you first must know what types are there and how they differ from each other. Self-driving cars can be divided into six categories, depending on the level of autonomy they provide. At the bottom, there are Level 0 cars, which have assistance systems that can only inform the driver about potential dangers. On the other end of the range, you would find Level 5 cars. These vehicles can drive by themselves in all situations with no driver intervention required. However, despite many technical advancements, there are no Level 5 vehicles available on the market at this time.

One of the most advanced systems available comes from Tesla and its Autopilot feature. It can take over full control of the car but still requires the driver to keep eyes on the road. This level of autonomy makes Tesla cars Level 2 self-driving vehicles. Another important name in the world of autonomous vehicles is Waymo, a Google subsidiary that develops its own autonomous driving technology. This company runs a fleet of various vehicles, such as the Chrysler Pacifica, retrofitted with their self-driving components. These cars can drive on their own throughout the whole trip, with no help from the driver. However, this is only possible in areas previously mapped by Waymo technicians, which makes them Level 4 vehicles.

How do self-driving cars work?

Regardless of what level of automation they offer, most self-driving cars use similar technology. It starts with a range of high-definition cameras placed around the car, combined with ultrasonic sensors and radars. In some applications, GPS and satellite navigation provide additional information about the current location. These values go into a computer, which uses them to create an image of the car surroundings. The last step is deciding on suitable actions, such as turning or braking. Creating a decision-making program that can mimic human intelligence and intuition is the biggest problem. Self-driving cars perform great in a controlled environment with clear rules, such as highway traffic. However, in urban traffic, self-driving algorithms sometimes can't keep up with conditions that may seem chaotic.

Are self-driving cars safe?

If we look at the statistics, self-driving cars appear to have a superb track record. For instance, Waymo cars have covered over 10 million miles driving on public roads. In this interval, they caused only one minor accident while in autonomous mode. This is an admirable result, but you must remember this was under controlled conditions that include previous mapping and similar limitations. Tesla cars, on the other hand, have caused several serious accidents while on Autopilot. Still, it is worth mentioning that the human factor can have played an important role in these crashes, as these cars operate in various conditions and have no professional assistance.

We can conclude that self-driving cars are safe if we use them within their limitations and follow guidelines set by the manufacturer. This way we can enjoy a safe, relaxed and comfortable trip and have better use of our time. The problems begin when we misuse this technology, which can lead to dangerous situations and severe accidents.

How many deaths have self-driving cars caused?

By the end of 2019, there have been 6 deaths related to cars driving in autonomous mode. While every death is a tragedy, these figures seem to alight with the goal of zero fatalities in traffic. Still, several prominent cases reveal a worrying issue that could escalate to a much bigger problem. One of them happened in Florida, where a Tesla Model S failed to react when a truck swiveled into its path, ending up underneath the trailer. Another took place in Arizona, where a woman was riding her bicycle when an Uber test vehicle struck her. Along with other similar accidents, these accidents proved that current technology still has limitations and weak points.

Why are driverless cars a bad idea?

Despite manufacturers' best efforts, imperfections and glitches are an unavoidable part of every man-made system. Most of us have learned to live with these nuisances. Still, this is not so simple with self-driving vehicles. It is an inconvenience when your computer or smart-phone freezes-up. However, it's easy to understand how dangerous it could be if it were to happen with your car while its speeding down the road. These potential system issues are just a small portion of a problem.

The big question, not limited only to self-driving cars, is how to create and program artificial intelligence. This is a crucial component that will allow adequate control and reactions in real-world environments and various unforeseen situations. Besides technical and software challenges that come with it, there are also moral and ethical dilemmas that come with it. As there are no real answers to these questions at this time, it is not likely we will see fully autonomous vehicles on our roads any time soon.

Even with currently available technology and solutions, we can still see several potential problems. The biggest issue is trusting it too much and expecting it to do more than it is capable of. Self-driving cars that perform well in most situations can develop a false sense of security for drivers who could consequently stop paying attention enough to what's happening ahead.

Learn more about self-driving cars pros and cons here.

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Wouldn't it be great if your car could drive by itself, and all you had to do is tell it where to go? There are many advantages that self-driving cars can offer. Owning a car that can drive by itself would make all trips more comfortable, as you wouldn't have to keep your eyes on the road all the time.

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Safety
- Higher Levels of automation
- Removes human error
- Less crashes that are caused by human error
- Assists drivers from dangers

Mobility
- Increase mobility for seniors + people with disabilities
- Expand transportation options

Economic and Societal Benefits
- Motor vehicle crashes cost billions each year
- Less crashes = reduce money costs

Environment
- Self driving cars can strive for better environments
- Change the need for parking spaces + lots
- Increase the use of shuttle fleets
- Less personal driving

Efficiency and Convenience
- Americans spend 6.9 billion hours in traffic (2014)
~Increasing fuel costs and vehicle emissions
- Self driving cars can improve efficiency