SCIENCE, SPACE & TECHNOLOGY »» TECHNOLOGY »» AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES »» May 03, 2021

Currently, there no fully self-driving cars that are capable of operating in all types of weather and driving conditions without human intervention. However, several semi-autonomous cars perform some or all steering and braking functions and automatically match the car’s speed to posted road signs. Many companies are racing to become the first full-autopilot cars, and a group of Tesla drivers was recently selected to receive a software update to enable these vehicles to better steer and accelerate without human hands and feet. Tesla claims that hundreds of thousands of its cars will be able to drive themselves sometime in 2021, likely making them the first large fleet of autonomous vehicles owned by ordinary consumers. Even so, 61% of adult internet users reported they would not feel comfortable riding in a self-driving car. However, by the year 2035, it is expected we will have about 4.5 million self-driving cars on our roads. The autonomous vehicle global market is expected to reach $36 billion by 2025, with the U.S. market accounting for 29% of all self-driving vehicles. Pending legislation: H.R.6284 - 21st Century Smart Cars Act (116th congress) Sponsor: Rep. Janice Schakowsky (IL)