The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has selected self-driving vehicles as the most promising intelligent form of transportation for the future. In fact, Autoblog reports the IEEE predicts that 75 percent of cars on the road in the year 2040 will be autonomous.
The technology needed to run these vehicles is still developing, with large companies such as Google working on systems and lobbying for formal preparations for the cars. While many current vehicles have cutting edge technologies such as sensors and self-parking options, even more advancements are expected in the coming years.
According to Forbes, Cadillac expects to produce partially-autonomous cars by the year 2015, while BMW and Audi have each created concept cars that are self-driving. The technology necessary for these vehicles is present, but the high costs for production and scheduled maintenance needed to update devices is currently too high to be practical. However, these costs are declining just as automakers are making autonomous features a priority.
This news comes just as states are preparing for driverless cars to hit the roads. The Boston Globe reports that California governor Jerry Brown is planning to sign legislation to make way for autonomous vehicles in the state. The law would set up safety and performance regulations for self-driving cars.