Self-driving car

The driverless car is a theoretical technology that would be able to navigate on large highways like the U.S. interstate highway system, and later on smaller roads or even off-road, with little or no human intervention needed. Also referred to as an autopilot, autonomous vehicle, autodrive car, or an automated guided vehicle (AGV).

Driverless passenger programs include the FROG passenger vehicles from Holland, and The Argo research project from Italy. Entries to the US DARPA Grand Challenge are off-road autonomous vehicles.

Benefits

• Driverless cars would reduce traffic by allowing cars to travel faster and closer together; reduce car accidents and allow drivers as well as passengers to spend drive time working or relaxing.

• The technology could help economies with more efficient and reliable transportation. For example, there may be autonomous or remote-controlled delivery trucks dispatched around the clock to pick up and deliver goods.

• This would also prove useful for car buyers that request a vehicle not sold in their area, or who prefer not to visit a dealership. After entering all the needed information online, the website would say, "Your car is on its way, Mr. Shultz. Thank you for your purchase." Then the car drives itself into your driveway a few minutes to a few days later.

• The driverless car may be able to valet itself or allow a visually impared motorist to travel independently. This would also be convenient for those who leave the country for extended periods and wouldn't want to pay exorbitant parking fees to leave it at the airport; the car would simply drive itself back home.

• Conversely, "personal cars" might disappear entirely, instead the entire transportation system acting as an ever-ready taxicab service paid for by taxes and/or advertisements thereon.

• If the car has a long distance to cover and needs to refuel, it would pull itself into a gas station, honk the horn, roll down its own windows, and tell an employee through the car radio that the autonomous car needs refueling, and what grade of fuel it needs. Before or after the attendant refuels it, the car would print out the owner's credit card or checking account number in order to pay for the fuel.

• This would be tremendous Godsend for people that drive to bars and inebriate themselves; the ability for a car to shuttle them home would plummet DUIs and drunken-related accidents through the floor.