A Driverless Vehicle
A driverless vehicle is a car, truck, bus, van, or taxi that travels on the roads without a human driver. They can guide themselves, avoid obstacles (障碍物), and get from A to B without anybody in it. Driverless cars can go wherever a traditional car with a human driver goes.
Driverless vehicles, also known as autonomous (自动化的) vehicles, robotic vehicles, and self-driving vehicles, can sense and get to know what is happening around them with the help of modern technology. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a computer software that makes smart machines think and act like humans. In this way, driverless cars can avoid obstacles and find the best road map for the vehicle.
Levels of the Driving Automation
Today, there are six main kinds of vehicles, from No Automation, Driver Support, Partial Automation, Conditional Automation, High Automation, to Full Automation. The sixth level, Full Automation, means a completely driverless vehicle that can drive in all situations completely on its own.
Safety of the Driverless Cars
Many people are scared about the thought of traveling in a car with no human driver. However, the artificial intelligence and sensors in a driverless vehicle do not get tired, angry, or sleepy. They do not make the trip dangerous because of high speed or drinking too much. Most experts agree that autonomous vehicles will become much safer than human drivers, especially when all the basic problems in the early period have been solved.
With Driverless Cars, Traveling Will Be Relaxing
Can you imagine what our roads will be like when all vehicles are driverless? They will be connected to a traffic control center with information about all the roads. The driverless vehicles will be able to make sure that traffic jams never happen. In this way, it will give you a comfortable trip. Humans will be able to read, write, watch movies, eat, play games, and even sleep in their cars.
Many people say that there are many problems about driverless vehicle. Maybe human beings still have a long way to go to make the driverless vehicle much safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable.
31. What is a driverless vehicle?
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32. What dangers can driverless cars avoid?
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33. What can people do in a driverless vehicle according to the passage?
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34. Would you like to try a driverless vehicle? Why or why not?
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