It seems like yesterday when Steven Spielberg invited us into cinemas to experience his jaw-dropping world of Jurassic Park. It had everything a sci-fi blockbuster could have in 1993. Dinosaurs. Action. Suspense. Samuel L. Jackson. And, of course, self-driving Ford Explorers.
Fast forward to the summer of 2015, and we not only have a new Jurassic Park film, but we also have big name companies, such as Google and Mercedes-Benz, drastically shifting gears toward the research and development of autonomous vehicles, turning Hollywood magic into a tangible reality.
And while for many companies the main focus has been solely on the testing of automated vehicles for public road use, there’s another side companies are also exploring for even further possibilities – automated mobile workstations for employee engagement. As such, new technology brings with it new regulations and issues that have to be resolved before we can all sit back and enjoy working from our backseats.
Life is a Highway
Could you imagine in twenty years a mobile workstation pulling up to your driveway? Well, the folks at IDEO can. They envision a world where autonomous traveling pods, which they call WOW (Work On Wheels), will be an everyday occurrence for companies and employees.
Companies that need a driverless vehicle for a specific need could easily book these autonomous pods. For instance, if a company’s building were under construction, restricting office access, then they could reserve a WOW from IDEO and have it pick up their employees, resuming their work – only in a driverless mobile workstation.
It’s a really interesting concept to think about, especially given the opportunities for improving employee engagement. For example, there are a number of factors that determine an employee’s unhappiness at work, such as, which many overlook, the lack of natural sunlight and ventilation.
IDEO realizes this. They see opportunities for employers to utilize the WOW’s mobility for working with natural sunlight and ventilation. Let’s say there’s a really good restaurant we want to go to for lunch – but it’s an hour away. However, since we’re not driving, we’ll not only have that commute time for working, but we’ll also get access to the sun’s natural rays and breezy, fresh air.
I can see voice of the employee happiness ratings going through the sunroof!
But with all technology there are still issues that have to be resolved before these vehicles are completely available to the public.
Accidents Happen
Google’s driverless vehicles, for instance, are going through some bumpy test drives at the moment. The Associated Press reported that Google’s self-driving cars were involved in three collisions in California last September, bringing a total of 11 minor accidents within six years.
But according to Google’s Chris Urmson, Director, Self-Driving Cars, “Not once was the self-driving car the cause of the accident.” While that is somewhat of a relief, it’s still troublesome to think of yourself in an accident, especially when it involves artificial intelligence.
This brings up a new list of insurance headaches that need to be mitigated. For instance, who’s to blame when someone’s “car” accidentally malfunctions and runs into your bumper, while the “driver” is in the back of their car asleep?
Robert Peterson, director of the Center for Insurance Law and Regulation at Santa Clara University, has a possible solution. He says that the person in the driverless car would become the “agent,” which would allow them to be liable for “financial responsibility limits.”
It’s these types of scenarios that insurance companies and lawmakers are going to have to dissect and rethink to find the fairest solutions for legal policyholders.
Driving Change
There are also a number of regulations these autonomous vehicles and drivers must pass before public use, much like the fledging drone technology.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is already conducting a four-year study to help states for recommending laws. For instance, the NHTSA recommends that drivers will need to test for an autonomous-specific driver’s license before they can use an automated vehicle. This includes a mandatory training program for drivers in case something goes wrong with their vehicle.
The NHTSA has also created five new classifications for self-driving vehicles, which range from 0-4 levels. The “Level 0” will allow drivers to legally switch to full automation only in case of an emergency, while the “Level 4” will allow drivers’ vehicles to be completely autonomous the entire time they’re in the car.
It’ll be interesting to see how far this technology takes off in the next few years and how states will use regulations without limiting the promising potential for self-driving vehicles, after all, change is scary.
The Road Ahead
Similar to last century’s evolution from horse to car, automated vehicles are logically the next step in personal and public transportation. It will forever change the way we think about work and our perception of every day living. And though this technology is only in its infancy and still has many legal issues that need to be navigated, the possibilities for companies, employees and people are limitless and exciting.
Though it’s a safe bet to say we’ll see many self-driving vehicles covering the road in the next twenty five to thirty years, we might have to wait a little longer to witness a cloned T. Rex at our local zoo.