Google and Delphi reported few weeks ago, after being pressured by Associated Press, that their self-driving prototype cars had been involved in 11 accidents. The two companies said the accidents were not caused by the cars but the fault of human drivers.However, it seems that once human drivers finally stop rear-ending these vehicles, the autonomous cars themselves might result to quarreling over who gets the right of way.
Reuters reported that two self-driving cars--a Lexus RX400h and Audi Q5-- belonging to Google Inc and Delphi Automotive Plc almost ran into each other on San Antonio road in Palo Alto on Tuesday while on their various tests assignment. A passenger riding in one of the robotic vehicles revealed this to Reuters.
The passenger named John Absmeier, who is director of Delphi's Silicon Valley lab and global business director and overseeing the auto part company's automated driving project, narrated that as their car was about to make a lane change, the Google Lexus self-driving car that appeared to be in a hurry cut off the Audi Q5 Crossover, ''forcing it to abort the lane change.''
The Delphi car "took appropriate action," according to Absmeier. And no collision occurred.However, I see the incident between the Google Lexus and Delphi Q5 as a wake-up call for autonomous vehicle companies to be diligent when they are out testing these vehicles.
any comment?