Waymo we go!
This week's episode of the Model Futura podcast explore the future of transportation, particularly focusing on driverless cars and the implications of autonomous vehicles
If you’ve been following the Modem Futura podcast (a sister publication to the Future of Being Human Substack), you’ll know that my co-host Sean Leahy and I explore different aspects of the intersection between technology, society and the future each week from our own unique — and often playful — perspectives.
This week’s episode focuses on autonomous driving, with Sean getting his first experience of riding in a driverless Waymo — live and “on microphone” so to speak.
You can listen to the episode below, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. I’ve also included more information on the episode below.
In this conversation, Sean and I explore the future of transportation, particularly focusing on driverless cars and the implications of autonomous vehicles.
We discuss the current state of technology, the various levels of automation, and the societal changes that may arise from widespread adoption of self-driving cars.
Our conversation also touches on personal experiences with Waymo, the challenges of public perception, and the potential benefits for individuals with disabilities.
You can see the Full Waymo Ride on YouTube.
And if you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe on your preferred platform so you don’t miss an episode — we post every Tuesday.
Contents
00:00 Envisioning the Future of Transportation
03:00 The Reality of Driverless Cars
11:59 Understanding Levels of Automation
23:55 The Road Ahead for Autonomous Vehicles
31:13 Navigating Autonomous Driving: A New Experience
39:17 The Waymo Experience: First Impressions and Observations
50:41 Safety in Autonomous Vehicles: Analyzing the Data
59:57 Ethical Dilemmas in Autonomous Driving: The Trolley Problem
Acknowledgment
We'd like to acknowledge the partial funding support provided by the US Department of Transportation-sponsored Travel Behavior and Demand National University Transportation Center led by The University of Texas at Austin. The Center, of which Arizona State University is a consortium member, has helped make this podcast episode, and the research we're discussing, possible
Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu