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Articles on Autonomous vehicles

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Control towers at airports are only the most visible parts of the complex national air traffic control system. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Why AI can’t replace air traffic controllers

An air traffic safety expert explains why humans will remain central to managing the nation’s airports and airspace even as AI promises to improve air traffic control.
Scotland’s CAVForth self-driving bus service began in May 2023, serving a 14-mile route that crosses the Forth Road Bridge on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Stagecoachbus.com

Self-driving buses that go wherever you want? How the UK is trying to revolutionise public transport

Amid bus route cuts and rail strikes, can the answer to our future public transport needs be found in the hi-tech prototypes being trialled around the UK?
Researchers are increasingly using small, autonomous underwater robots to collect data in the world’s oceans. NOAA Teacher at Sea Program,NOAA Ship PISCES

Titan submersible disaster underscores dangers of deep-sea exploration – an engineer explains why most ocean science is conducted with crewless submarines

Dramatic improvements in computing, sensors and submersible engineering are making it possible for researchers to ramp up data collection from the oceans while also keeping people out of harm’s way.
Self-driving cars could lead to increased traffic and pollution if they spur more travel by car. Witthaya Prasongsin via Getty Images

Driverless cars won’t be good for the environment if they lead to more auto use

Studies show that when people can ride in a car without having to operate it, they increase their car use. That could increase traffic and pollution, unless government puts a price on car travel.
Tesla’s Autopilot enables hands-free driving, but it’s not meant to allow drivers to take their eyes off the road. Marcus Zacher/Flickr

Why Tesla’s Autopilot crashes spurred the feds to investigate driver-assist technologies – and what that means for the future of self-driving cars

An autonomous vehicle expert explains how Tesla’s Autopilot works, what prompted US authorities to investigate the system and what changes might be in store for the company.
Self-driving cars are programmed to identify and avoid risk, but in the case of an accident, who is legally responsible? (Shutterstock)

Who’s to blame when a self-driving car has an accident?

As self-driving cars increase in popularity, the question of legal liability remains. The driver, automobile manufacturer and software designers all have a role to play.

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