A restricted FBI report has revealed fears about the use of autonomous automobiles as “lethal weapons” in the future. The unclassified paper refers to the “game-changing” nature of driverless automobiles and their potential to revolutionise high-speed chases.
The FBI predicts autonomous automobiles – such as Google’s project which requires no human input – will have an impact on what law enforcement officers and suspects can make with a car. For example, a automobile could be programmed to be used as a vacation while the passenger is able to deal with pursuers rather than having to concentrate on the road.
However, the FBI report, uncovered by The Guardian, also goes over some of the benefits that driverless automobiles could have for policing. It states: “Surveillance will be made a lot more effective and easier, with less of a chance that a patrol automobile will lose sight of a target vehicle.”
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Autonomous automobiles could also be set to stay a certain distance behind targets to avoid detection. Google told automobile express it was too early to announce any safety and safety systems it was planning for its car, while the UK home office declined to comment on whether it had considered the danger of driverless cars.
Current EU legislation dictates that any autonomous automobiles used in the UK can only be operated with a motorist present. Although that could change according to the current government announcement on driverless cars. Volvo, which already has several driverless prototypes on the road, explained there are several safety systems which make sure motorists are in-car.
Volvo has steering wheel sensors that discover if a motorist is distracted and stop the automobile if necessary. Technicians are developing heartbeat sensors, too, so a automobile can bring itself to a safe stop in the event of a medical emergency.
A spokesman added: “We have systems currently in keyless automobiles where, if you start it and get out, the automobile stops.”
The government has announced a raft of new procedures to allow driverless cars to be checked on UK roads for the first time from 2015. read the full story here…