You can wind up in a self-driving Uber right now in cities like Pittsburgh and Phoenix. But those vehicles still have quaint automotive essentials like steering wheels, pedals, and chaperones (“ drivers”). When General Motors rolls out its Cruise AV in 2019, though, the electric vehicle’s computers will be in control—all the time—eliminating the need for manual controls. The sedan will join a fleet of app-hailed autonomous taxis. Once the ride shows up, you can space out in its decidedly different cockpit, which offers twice the chance to claim shotgun.
1 No wheel or pedals The car’s onboard computers make all of the driving decisions— including steering, accelerating, and braking—which cuts out manual controls and the possibility of human interference. The digital system has multiple backup circuits that operate simultaneously, so crucial elements (electrical power, navigation, and crash detection) won’t completely fail, even if there’s a malfunction.
This story is from the Spring 2018 edition of Popular Science.
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This story is from the Spring 2018 edition of Popular Science.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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