This collection of articles, written for the Traffic Safety Store in 2016, represents a series of early, in-depth explorations into the autonomous vehicle landscape, published when the technology was still largely conceptual for the general public. The content positioned the brand as a forward-thinking authority by moving beyond product sales to investigate the complex legislative, technological, and ethical challenges of a driverless future.

Paving the way for autonomous vehicles with legislation

The work detailed California’s trendsetting legislation (Assembly Bill 1593), which for the first time allowed companies to test truly driverless cars—vehicles without a steering wheel, pedals, or a human operator—on public roads. This was a critical step in gathering unfiltered public feedback on visibly autonomous technology.

Breaking down the core technology of driverless cars

The article explained the foundational role of Lidar, a sensor technology far more accurate than radar, in allowing a vehicle to map its environment. The content also identified a key hurdle: silicon chips were too slow and expensive to process Lidar’s immense data load. The research uniquely highlighted an emerging solution in gallium nitride, a material used to create faster, smaller, and cheaper chips that could make Lidar-powered vehicles a commercial reality.

Tackling unprecedented ethical dilemmas

The article explored the complex ethics of programming a machine to make life-or-death “gut decisions.” It presented the “Tragedy of the Commons” dilemma, questioning if a car should save the most lives possible (the “Utilitarian” model) or protect its passenger at all costs. Citing survey data, the articles revealed a critical paradox: while a majority of people agreed with the utilitarian model in theory, 59% admitted they would prefer to buy a car programmed to save them.