So, what’s it like? Let me start off by saying, once you experience not having to deal with rush-hour traffic there is no going back. The technology is mostly driven by advanced computer vision and machine learning technologies so the way these cars drive is surprisingly smooth and human-like. You don’t feel like it’s a machine doing the driving, more like having another driver, minus the actual physical…well, driver. Technology stacks vary from vendor to vendor, with Tesla’s Autopilot being the current gold standard. Cadillac Super Cruise is another notable entry, along with the Nissan ProPilot system. My experience has mostly been with the Tesla Autopilot system which is amazingly good in stop-and-go traffic and normal highway driving but becomes seriously hair-raising on winding back roads. If you are serious about a car that has these features, you need to make sure you understand the limits of the system you are buying before you end up disappointed. Personally, I love Tesla’s Autopilot. It’s very capable and has proven to be a major game changer for my personal commute into work each day. It’s been months since I had to manually drive on the highway segments of my commute and the system keeps getting even better with every software update.

…autonomous vehicles are the gateway drug for a complete re-imagining of the entire transportation system.

The future of autonomous vehicles is nothing short of something ripped right from your favorite sci-fi novel. Imagine being able to have your car drive you into work and then it drives itself home, parking back into your garage, all without any human assistance! Once the level of autonomous vehicles reaches critical mass it will massively change commute traffic patterns. It’s likely that autonomous vehicles will have the capability to utilize shared information from a central system to rapidly react to changing traffic patterns. This same capability would also support the ability for these connected vehicles to report road conditions in near-real-time so maybe potholes will actually get fixed quickly…ok, that’s likely wishful thinking, but at least it’s a possibility. The point I’m trying to make is that autonomous vehicles are the gateway drug for a complete re-imagining of the entire transportation system. A system where drivers can enjoy less stress, quicker rides into work, and ultimately not be “drivers” at all, but passengers who can engage in productive pursuits during their commute into the office. Safety implications of this technology are nothing short of incredible in that we could bear witness to the end of the majority of motor vehicle crashes. This future is not that far away, anywhere from five to 10 years depending on who you ask. So get ready, because the future…it’s autonomous!