Have you ever seen a car without a driver? It sounds crazy, but these computer-driven cars may soon be filling roads near you. Companies like Google and Tesla have been designing and testing such cars. They just need to run final tests to make sure whether they can run alongside human-driven cars on the road.
The cars have sensors (传感器) all around which can detect other cars and blocks in the road. Sensors on the wheels help when parking, so the car knows how far it is from the edge of the road or other parked cars. Road signs are read by cameras, and satellite navigation systems (卫星导航系统) are used so the car knows how to get to your destination. All you have to do is type in the address! Finally, a central computer system takes in all the information it receives from the sensors and cameras and uses this to work out when to stop and speed up.
Sounds like your idea of heaven? Sitting back, looking out of the windows and watching a film while driving would be possible with this new technology. Computers would drive more safely than people — they don't get disturbed by phones or talking, they would obey the speed limit and have quicker reaction in case of an emergency.
However, driverless cars have many disadvantages. Computers would have difficulties making some decisions: if a child ran into the road, would the computer choose to hit the child or turn quickly to hurt the car's passengers? And should children, or drunk people, be allowed in a driverless car by themselves? Besides these questions, many people may lose their jobs. For example, bus, taxi, train and tram drivers, as well as driving instructors.
I don't really want a driverless car — but it is only a matter of time before ordinary people will be able to afford them on our roads.