"In Uber’s Pittsburgh experiment, two company employees (a driver and an engineer) will ride in each car along with passengers, who must first agree to take part. Unless one can afford a Tesla or is lucky enough to be invited into a Google test car—something usually reserved for dignitaries, engineers, industry analysts and the press—this will be the first time the public will have access to this type of technology. “There might be some driverless tourism as a result of Uber’s program,” says Bryant Walker Smith, an assistant professor of law and engineering at the University of South Carolina. “It’s an important first step because the public will be instrumental in shaping demand for these systems.”"
- Date Published:08/25/2016
- Original Publication:Scientific American