Acceptance of Autonomous VehiclesPutka, Jeffrey EN585 Trends in Media, Information and CommunicationsProfessor MannheimerQuestion:What will be the consensus of public perception on the proliferation of autonomous vehicles? Will there be acceptance or fear? Will people ride in a driverless bus or fly in an unmanned plane? Will people soon turn to personal drones to carry out their personal errands? As with any new technology capable of replacing an established technology, or status quo, the public may be suspicious of adoption, as in the case of the automobile first beginning to challenge the dominance of the horse and carriage as a means of transport. main long-distance travel. Next question: When automotive technology supplanted the horse and carriage as the primary means of human travel, it also gave rise to the modern suburb and commuting, as cities' primary workforce will no longer be forced to live within walking distance of their occupation. Will automated modes of transportation bring about similar social changes? Will there be a separation between automated and non-automated transportation technology? History of Unmanned Flight: The current technology employed by the United States Air Force in its Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), or as the public more commonly knows as “drones,” traces its development to the United States Civil War , when both the Union and Confederacy used hot air balloons to spy on the other side, attempting to ascertain troop strength, movements, and more accurately direct artillery fire. During the Spanish-American War, the US Army attached a camera to a kite, resulting in the world's first aerial reconnaissance photos. When the aircraft... in the center of the card... positions eliminated, as they have been replaced by automated means of ticketing and check-in. Ultimately, there is the possibility that these savings could be passed on to the consumer with lower ticket prices. Safety Robotic pilots and drivers do not suffer from the same conditions as their colleagues, such as being tired or enduring emotional stress. They also benefit from more advanced sensing capabilities that could allow them to be more aware of their surroundings. Automated vehicles could respond better to emergency situations due to the lack of panic. Efficiency Just as in the case of safety, robots are not vulnerable to human conditions and therefore do not have to take breaks, which can lead to an increase in operating times. Furthermore, both air and ground vehicles could be used more efficiently, reducing traffic congestion and decreasing transit times.