Tech Savvy Talks sessions usually incorporate a TED Talk on a technology related topic. TED talks are video podcasts of the best talks and performances from TED Conferences around the world in which the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). There are talks on science, technology, entertainment, design, business, global issues, the arts and much more. This month Les recommended a particularly thought provoking and informative TED Talk ‘How a Driverless Car Sees the Road’ by Chris Urmson, a roboticist and until recently head of Google's self driving car project. You can view it below along with some articles for further reading.
Driverless or autonomous cars are very different from cars with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems which are now readily available. They are not something in the distant future and in fact a number of manufacturers expect to have level 4 cars available for sale by 2020. Level 4 means that the car can drive autonomously but may hand control back to a driver under some circumstances. Therefore controls such as steering wheels accelerator and brake controls will still be present. Level 5 autonomous cars will have no controls or steering wheel in the car. A major benefit from autonomous cars is the reduction in loss of life from motor accidents currently at over a million per year worldwide at present.
Our next TED TALK will be in similar vein, but about advanced robots, as presented at this years TED TALKS conference.
Unfortunately there wasn’t time at our regular meeting in September to continue with the series about cells so the next part will be shown in our meeting room at 2.00 pm prior to our next 'Coffee at Rustik' get together.
Recent article relating to Chris Urmson in Forbes -- https://www.forbes.com/sites/chunkamui/2017/05/08/urmson-on-driverless-cars/#356681bf47c9
'Perspectives on Driverless Cars' Lecture in April 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtgBySRrN0Q