The Big Future: Will cars really be able to drive themselves in the future?

Self-driving cars always feel so unreal, more like something out of science fiction; people feel that they are still very far away from reality and may take at least several decades to appear.

But this is not the case, and it may surprise you. Many conditions for the official commercial use of driverless cars are actually ready, and I believe we will see driverless cars on the streets soon.

Really, driverless cars are already around you and me

Self-driving is not an easy thing. At least this function cannot be achieved by a single device, chip or software installed in the car. It includes a whole set of sensors and computers that monitor the environment to ensure safety during driving. Many of these components are now present in current cars and have been around for several years, such as dynamic cruise control, which can use radar to monitor other cars in front of you and automatically maintain a safe distance from them.

Some cars have cameras installed on their windshields that automatically scan the road for lane markings and sound an alarm if you stray from your lane.

They will become more and more intelligent

In a few months, Tesla Motors will release a major software update for its Model S that will allow the car to drive itself on highways or even pick you up at a predetermined location on private roads at a predetermined time and park itself in a garage at night.

Cadillac Motor Company also plans to launch a new product called "Super Cruise," which is basically the same upgrade that Tesla is about to release.

Before truly driverless cars emerge, there are still problems that need to be solved: How to drive in bad weather conditions? How to drive safely on the street under various conditions?

Why are cars made like this?

We know very little about modern car design, and most of what we know is based on the assumption that we have to drive manually. If you leave the human factor aside for a moment, then the car can be made into any shape. Why not maximize the space inside the car, or remove the windows? That way, the passengers can take a nap in the car. In another hundred years, today's high technology will surely become commonplace in people's daily lives.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.