Uber-owned Otto to offer freight hauling services using autonomous trucks
Confession time...<p>I really want to see fully autonomous vehicles but I don&#x27;t really believe we&#x27;ll see them on the road in the next 50 years. I think Google&#x27;s concerns with being able to reliably pass control between the driver and the computer is warranted. I think that the technology will get stuck in the equivalent of the CGI uncanny valley where they find that the technology has to leave more control with the driver than its capable of to keep the driver engaged but never is capable of full control.<p>My guess is that these systems will evolve into assisted driving technologies that will use force feedback to the driver that will suggest the sanest path but won&#x27;t take full control until the driver is outside the envelope and will predominantly be used to extend the window where baby boomers can drive and also save inattentive and unsafe drivers for themselves. In other words a drunk behind the wheel is still going to look like a drunk behind the wheel but just less likely to kill someone.<p>I expect the technology will be displace drivers in military convoys but I don&#x27;t think it will be good enough for general use. Even if the technology is close I don&#x27;t think the safety will be as good as the &quot;augmented human&quot; model which will also rapidly improve and so insurance and regulation will continue to hamper rollout.<p>Would love from those in the know to tell me I&#x27;m wrong. I want to believe!