We don't have to look to the future to see the rise of autonomous vehicles; computers have already taken over many of the low-level functions of cars.
"The electronic systems in modern cars and trucks — under new scrutiny as regulators continue to raise concerns about Toyota vehicles — are packed with up to 100 million lines of computer code, more than in some jet fighters."
"Even basic vehicles have at least 30 of these microprocessor-controlled devices, known as electronic control units, and some luxury cars have as many as 100.
"These electronic brains control dozens of functions, including brake and cruise control and entertainment systems. Software in each unit is also made to work with others. So, for example, when a driver pushes a button on a key fob to unlock the doors, a module in the trunk might rouse separate computers to unlock all four doors.
Will faulty brake controllers cause us to reject computer-controlled components? Not a chance! For better or worse, our society regularly determines acceptable levels of risk. As long as computer-controlled devices provide sufficient value to outweigh the risks, we will accept them. In most cases, computer-controlled devices actually reduce risks when compared to fallible human controllers.
For more on this topic, see this NPR story entitled Despite Glitches, Electronics Make Cars Safer.
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