A Time of Transition

As the crisp air blows through my window, I know summer has transitioned to autumn. Acknowledging the seasonal transition seems fitting in the context of 2020. Throughout the year, it has felt like American society has shifted at a neck-breaking pace. Not only does our country find itself swirling in the middle of a pandemic, racial tension and economic collapse also threaten societal wellbeing in a way that will completely change the course of history.

Given that such a historical moment has arrived, I wonder if those living in it are aware of their place in history — as individuals who are part of humanity’s growing memory. Each action and decision that describes our present behaviors and emotions will be analyzed by future generations to understand how we coped and survived during this time of rapid transformation. The role of technology during this time will undoubtedly feature prominently in history books on 2020, given humanity’s reliance on technology to communicate with distant loved ones, maintain professional routines, continue going to school, and even order groceries. However, alongside the positive benefits of technology, our society has seen the rise of cyberbullying, extreme violence, disinformation campaigns, bias, and surveillance techniques that raise serious questions about the appropriate role of technology in society. These negative digital outcomes are leading to real-world consequences that our society can no longer ignore, and I hope to use my work as a TAPP Fellow to help shape the future of automated vehicles toward greater societal benefits and fewer consequences. 

As a fellow, I aim to use this time to reflect on methods for introducing automated vehicles safely into society. As they are developed and piloted, self-driving cars and semi-trucks will share the roads with human drivers, advanced driver assistance systems, pedestrians, cyclists, and all other road users. Each road user has different communication pathways, factors that can distract, and safety needs. However, each of their interactions with other road users must be undergirded with trust for all road users to share the roads safely. Although automated vehicles may offer the promise of enhanced safety by eliminating human error that contributes to most accidents, if humans do not trust these vehicles to make ethical and appropriate decisions in life or death situations like those encountered on our nation’s roads, the potential benefits from the technology could be lost or delayed indefinitely.

For this reason, I intend to use the research during my fellowship year to help identify and define approaches to developing trust between humans and automated vehicles. Establishing trust will be a critical next step in the safe evolution of vehicle technology, particularly since these vehicles may find themselves in a larger spotlight soon as more pilot programs are deployed that help with needed driverless food and goods delivery to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. While the technology continues to undergo its own transition to a fully viable road option for consumers, the purpose of these vehicles must continue to be shaped by the many public needs of our evolving society. The public must remain engaged and vigilant in holding all stakeholders involved with deploying automated vehicles accountable to ensure they are integrated safely into the existing fleet we see on the roads today and will see tomorrow.