In a few months, we could say that we are living in what we imagine to be the future. Uber has announced that it intends to expand its ‘robotaxi’ market in some of Europe’s major capitals. According to Bloomberg, the availability of these self-driving taxis, already operating in cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, will be extended to more than 10 markets by the end of 2026. These include major European cities such as Madrid and Zurich. It would therefore not be so absurd if, by the end of 2026, we were to start seeing self-driving cars in Milan too.
After the M4 and M5 lines, which already operate completely autonomously without drivers, driverless vehicles do not seem like such a revolutionary novelty. The most important issue, and one of the most debated topics, remains safety. Unlike the subway, there are no glass doors on the surface to prevent the most serious (and perhaps avoidable) accidents.
Driverless cars in Milan: how safe are they?
The issue of safety is, rightly, one of the most debated. On the one hand, there are those who point out that most road accidents are caused by human error. Whether it’s oversights due to fatigue or the imprudence of driving when you’re not in the right condition, whatever the reason, this danger does not exist in driverless cars .
On the other hand, however, driving is controlled by systems and algorithms which, however precise and efficient they may be, always have a chance of failing. It is precisely for this reason that many are skeptical about the introduction of these autonomous cars: would you, for example, leave your life in the hands of a machine controlled by artificial intelligence?
If this question intrigues you, you can try to find the answer in an immersive experience called The Jury Experience. One of the shows, in fact, presents a case in which a driverless car is involved in the death of a cyclist in a road accident .
Death at the hands of AI. Who pays the price?
The plot of the case revolves around the fact that a machine, physically speaking, cannot be charged with murder and that therefore the person responsible should be its creator, i.e., the defendant in the case. The audience (including you, if you wish) is called upon to deliver the final verdict and convict or acquit the defendant, based on a careful analysis of the evidence and witnesses. An immersive show that makes you think and brings up a topic that is not so far removed from a reality to which we may soon have to become accustomed.
You can get your tickets here.
Driverless Uber: how does it work?
We understand that there is no driver. But how exactly do these ‘robotaxis’ work? In general, the experience itself is not very different from that of traditional Ubers. The car arrives, unlocks the doors, and takes you to your destination. What changes, apart from the absence of a driver, is the driving system and the technology used.
The cars use sensors such as cameras, lidar, and radar to “see” 360° around them, detecting pedestrians, vehicles, traffic lights, and obstacles in real time. A computer with artificial intelligence processes this data, plans the route, and manages steering, acceleration, and braking. However, each major company adopts different strategies: Waymo, for example, maximizes safety with numerous cameras, radar, and lidar; Tesla, on the other hand, favors a camera-only approach, with fewer cameras but advanced software.