So how smart should one be for driverless car technology?

Have you been lucky enough to try AutoPilot features of a Tesla Model X? Some may consider this to be foolhardy as well but thanks to a recent Tesla Car service loaner, I got a chance to trial some of the fancier features of AutoPilot (AutoSteer, Auto Lane Change) & Summon on a Model X. Many people may call this a dangerous experiment with life but being more inclined to be a trendsetter, I took the chance to be an early adopter. This is an article to document that experience and its related philosophical questions on the smarts of person sitting in a driverless car.

There are those innovators who first play with a new concept and then the next category of 'Early Adopters' as you can see in the 13.5% part of the diffusion chart for innovation adoption that actually apply it in reality or practical daily-use. So let's start with the context...

I come from a family that was never that successful in business and generally risk-averse when it comes to life-critical experiments. At home, my wife is the one who doesn't care much for the thrill that comes with motorcyles and would probably be the last to encourage any test of the driverless car features. Me personally, I would classify myself as cautiously optimistic person who trusts people, the natural order of things & new opportunities in life. So, it's probably just dumb luck that I got a chance to try Tesla's autopilot features in our local area and highways. So first impressions : "Amazing": Yes, I felt brave and excited to try out the amazing features of AutoPilot and Auto-summon --> to some extent I liked it too, but then i took a more balanced (non cult follower) approach to thinking about my experiences and reasoned on the following points:

a. Would I really like to use these features with my family in the car ? What if it failed?

b. Won't complacency set-in at some point, and I would start letting robots control my life? After all a driverless car is more like a robot that I am sitting in... trusting, right?

c. There are so many complex variations in road-conditions, badly marked lanes, the weather, the unpredictable behavior of other drivers, reliability of the software & hardware elements involved in detecting change in risk -- So can we trust such a system thats in it's early stages of evolution?

d. When doubt & uncertainty sets in, would we continue to utilize these auto functions? What happens after we experience an unexpected behavior?

These questions will probably pop up in every drivers mind.

So, at the root level, are you dominant in your left brain thinking or right ? or do you utilize whole brain-thinking when you critically look at the ethical and practical aspects of using AI (and robotics) in day to day life? If one is left-brain oriented, then I am sure that one will think about the various "CONTROL" aspects on using driverless cars or even basic auto-pilot feature in all practicality. But if one is right-brain oriented, my guess would be that your experiences would be short-lived as you would love the experience of driving (naturally) and enjoying the experience of the same. Many a times, it could add great value to our lives if we think from a holistic approach: when you are tired or not in a stable mental condition to drive OR perhaps helps us out when we go on long journeys on boring highways with clearly marked straight roads. So think about this : As a smart person, would you want to allow a smart car to drive you to some place auto-magically ? What is the definition of smart cars after all -- to steer smartly all the time or provide smart people with steering controls at the right time, right place ?

When I first utilized these features, I observed the following (likes & dislikes) :-

i. A certain amount of training, orientation and memorization is needed if you want to start using these autopilot features with all kinds of sophisticated hidden movements of various existing controls in the car. I had to read the manual atleast 2-3 times and then refer back to it once again between multiple road trips, to ensure that I had not forgotten any of the smart moves (controls with turn-indicators or summon buttons or cruise- controls). It was just not intuitive enough for me -- and maybe I am not that smart but the average driver will probably need some time to learn and adapt to overloaded functions on the existing control sticks/buttons/key-fob actions. Hence: "DISLIKE".

ii. When you pull the cruise-control stick twice quickly, the car goes into AutoSteer mode. I felt a certain Wonderment initially and then started realizing that it was more like an augmented CRUISE CONTROL feature. So what if i wanted to set it within speed limits, to something manageable -- i think I have to wait for the right amount of acceleration to go into AutoSteer mode, and if it's too much then use the standard cruise control like features to +/- speed of the car. It does tell you to keep your hands on the steering wheel especially at some times when lanes shift or exits appear. "LIKE".

iii. While changing lanes automatically, what happens if I don't respond fast enough and switch of the lane-change indicator? I did not dare to play around or experiment too much with it especially when there were 3 lanes converting to 2 or vice-versa. I did notice that if I drive interior roads, this auto lane change feature is practically useless ... and why would we use it too unless we are on a highway... and lazy enough to not check the car lanes on our own? This brings back the question on your dominant brain function... what is it during the use of a driverless car or auto-pilot ? "DISLIKE".

iv. When using the summon feature, although everyone at home was really scared about the creeping Tesla X into a tight conditioned garage, I boldly stood in front of our home appliances to see whether the car would detect and slow-down. And it did __ and stop! It was quite a feeling to see this in action and although the key-fob feature of activating this function was really difficult to use, I did feel good about showing it to my family members. They were equally tense and shocked on successful Auto-Summon functions. I later thought about why I would ever use this feature -- meaning in normal life, won't i be seated in the car when pulling into the garage or exiting the garage? Why would i click buttons and stand outside the car? Again goes back to the question of what level of "control" are we willing to give up and whether our human brain really feels this automation (in parking) is needed at the given moment ... for its current application. In any case, result: "LIKE".

v. I did come to a realization quickly that it is dangerous to use the AutoPilot features when you are driving in curvaceous roads, or when trying to exit out of a highway ramp. In fact, any places/routes where the lanes are not clearly marked or of unusually large width or narrow streets, I don't think i would risk using the advanced features at this point in time. Perhaps later when the technology for driverless cars comes up with better predictive technologies or our governments build better infrastructure (or road markers) to guide the features of a driverless car! Overall : "DISLIKE" at this moment.

vi. Finally, regarding auto-navigation combined with GPS pre-planned routes, it seems like you HAVE to set a route for navigation, otherwise how would the car know when to take any exit off the highway or when to actually start switching lanes early-enough? I personally LIKE the navigation features of the TESLA cars. I tried the AutoSteer feature without any mapped directions but I didn't go too far with that on a highway as it created a feeling on doubt and uncertainty. We just need to ensure the AUTOSteer features are better integrated with the Navigate features.

In summary, when we think about driverless functions or auto-steering cars, we have to think about three critical judgement calls:

A. Will you stay in control the whole duration or just use it in the interim? What's truly smart here?

B. When will you utilize these features with passengers or without? What about your family?

C. Is there a true need for these features with your own car, which I am assuming you enjoy driving in any direction, with full awareness and full-control? Can you trust a machine?

Is this the type of technology that is meant for smart people or the average Joe/Jane? At this point I will wait for a few more trials before I arrive at a conclusion on AutoPilots.

Image Source: WeekInTesla (http://www.weekintesla.com/)

Author: @vpax : early adopter, innovator, spouse & father of 2 girls
who wants the best avenues of growth for millenials and new services