MECHANICS OF SELF-DRIVING CARS:
HOW THEY WORK
* Cameras, sensors and radar see the road and other cars, and GPS systems are used for navigation
* Programmed car uses this information to autonomously steer, accelerate, brake, navigate
* Driverless cars "talk" to each other and to tech-enabled road infrastructure
BENEFITS
* Potentially save lives by removing human error, which causes 90 per cent of road accidents
* Increase leisure time by freeing driver
* Reduce congestion with cars closer together
* Lower freight costs as trucks no longer need drivers
WHAT'S NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD
* Tech-enabled roads and road infrastructure
* Laws to allow self-driving cars and to deal with insurance and ethical issues
COMPANIES IN FAST LANE
* Google - Tech giant with driverless prototypes in use at US headquarters
* Tesla Motors - US electric auto specialist rolling out cars with self-driving features
* Volvo - Swedish maker conducting driverless car tests in Australia
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