RISE OF THE MACHINE
Technology is transforming both the bikes we ride and the cars we share the road with and there’s an unmistakable trend that’s seeing human control increasingly handed over to computers in the name of safety.
ISN’T IT EASY FOR A COMPUTER TO DRIVE A CAR? AS IT HAPPENS, NO, IT’S MUCH HARDER
Whether it’s the cornering ABS, anti-wheelie and traction control systems that are proliferating on bikes, or the rapid growth of radar technology, lane control systems and semi-autonomous driving solutions emerging on four wheels, we’re increasingly finding that a computer stands between us and the vehicles of which we’re supposed to be in control. In theory, all these systems are intended to increase safety, but they also bring new challenges and pose additional problems that need to be addressed as elements of human intelligence and instinct as well as human error are filtered out.
Semi-autonomous driving systems, whether they’re Tesla’s ‘Autopilot’, Nissan’s ‘ProPilot’, GM’s ‘Super Cruise’ or any one of a dozen other trade names used to try to distinguish themselves from the competition, all aim to eradicate the flaws in human drivers by concentrating on the road for them, monitoring other traffic and taking on some of the burden of guiding a couple of tonnes of metal at high speed just metres from other people.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably sceptical about the idea of computer-controlled cars. After all, motorcyclists are a rare breed
