I don't understand why the detractors don't understand this. Many people (including some commenters here) seem to think that the technology is useless unless it can handle all possible situations.
Auto-drive on long highway sections would be an amazing improvement by itself and prevent all kinds of fatigue related accidents. The cars could just announce ("Driver, take control") as they exit the highway system.
Hell, trucking companies could just have drivers waiting at highway exits to do the last-mile driving, the long-haul sections of trucking wouldn't require a person on-board.
I don't think it would be unfeasible to install beacons designed to aid driverless vehicles either, especially on highways where things don't change very quickly. Simple posts with machine-readable signalling (visual/radio/whatever). Most signage is designed for human recognition, but I bet it wouldn't be impossible/terribly expensive to install signage designed for automated driving.
Auto-drive on long highway sections would be an amazing improvement by itself and prevent all kinds of fatigue related accidents. The cars could just announce ("Driver, take control") as they exit the highway system.
Hell, trucking companies could just have drivers waiting at highway exits to do the last-mile driving, the long-haul sections of trucking wouldn't require a person on-board.
I don't think it would be unfeasible to install beacons designed to aid driverless vehicles either, especially on highways where things don't change very quickly. Simple posts with machine-readable signalling (visual/radio/whatever). Most signage is designed for human recognition, but I bet it wouldn't be impossible/terribly expensive to install signage designed for automated driving.