Future Of Autonomous Driving On Display At CES Show In Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (CBS) -- Automakers and tech companies alike are looking ahead and seeing roads filled with self-driving cars -- accident-avoiders that some say could save 30,000 lives every year. We're learning more about some of the work going into that vision at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Toyota's made a billion dollar bet on artificial intelligence, with research led by Gill Pratt, the guy who used to run the military's DARPA robotics challenge.
"We want to enhance the safety of automobiles," Pratt said, "with the ultimate goal of creating a car that is incapable of causing a crash."
And a car that can think for itself, understanding and reacting to situations that even its programmers haven't thought of.
Another push is to increase access to the roads.
"This includes people with special needs and seniors," Pratt said. "That's the area where we need full autonomy."
Volvo wants to extend its reputation for safety to self-driving cars, saying automakers "should take full responsibility for the actions of the car...in full autonomous mode."
The company's confidence is on display in a video for its 'Concept 26': when the driver chooses to 'delegate' that task, his seat reclines. He's shown reading a book, or working on the small table that emerges from the door. The glove box rotates to reveal a TV screen with content timed to the length of the route.