Rise of the Very Big Killing Machines
I drive HGVs for a living, and full automation is coming. Read the trade press for accounts of sitting in a truck at 85kph 5 metrees from the one in front. Right now, my driver assistance kit can fully stop my truck without any input from me. Active cruise control maintains speed and separation, AEBS can slam the brakes on quicker tham I can react, lane departure warning tells me when I'm weaving.
BUT...the pushback from the public is going to be massive. The first driverless vehicle to kill someone (and it will, the law of averages being what it is) will set back the process back 3-5 years. Then there's security. It's a trivial matter to bring a vehicle to a halt, use a cell jammer to stop it reporting, and then make off with part of the load.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
