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Subject Code and Name: ICT710 IT Governance and Emerging Technologies
Lecturers Name: Nitya Karmakar
Assignment Title: Autonomous Vehicle

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Student 1 KARUNGU PHILIP NJOGU 20029877 ICT710 33% p.n.k
Student 2 NJOROGE KENNEDY 20030876 ICT710 33% k.N
Student 3 KIPKOECH CARLOS 20029946 ICT710 33% c.k
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Student 5

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Subject Code & Name:ICT710 IT Governance and emerging technologies

Lecturer’s/Tutor’s Name: Nitya Kamakar Assignment Title: Automous Vehicle

Family Name Given Name(s) Student ID Tutorial/ Code Signature

Student 1 KARUNGU PHILIP NJOGU 20029877 ICT710 p.n.k

Student 2 NJOROGE KENNEDY 20030876 ICT710 k.N

Student 3 KIPKOECH CARLOS 20029946 ICT710 c.k

Student 4
Student 5

GROUP ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET * AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT PTY LTD PAGE 1 OF 1
 Executive Summary
This report explored the development, impact, challenges, and future prospects concerning autonomous vehicle's
influence on the transportation industry and modern society. The report provides the history of different steps in AV
development, from the very early stages of experimentation to the current innovations, and describes the advantages
offered by autonomous vehicles concerning safety, efficiency, and access. The report has also highlighted the
present size and growth of the current market for autonomous vehicles while acknowledging several challenges in
the industry. Additionally, the report considered the future path ofthe with a focus on a governmental role of
regulation and fostering innovation and public safety. The report has concluded with recommendations for
stakeholders to mitigate risks and maximize benefits as the technology evolves.
 Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................4
2. History and Development of Autonomous Vehicles....................................................................4
3. Advantages of Autonomous Vehicles: Impact on Transportation and Modern Civilization........5
4. Size and Growth of the Current Autonomous Vehicles Market...................................................5
5. Challenges/Disadvantages of Autonomous Vehicles...................................................................6
6. The Future of Autonomous Vehicles...........................................................................................6
7. Government's Role in Regulating Autonomous Vehicles............................................................7
8. Conclusion and Recommendations..............................................................................................7
10. Referencing................................................................................................................................8
 1. Introduction
Autonomous vehicles represent a revolutionary shift in the transport industry due to the incorporation of state-of-
the-art technologies such as sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and high-performance computing
systems for navigational and decision-making purposes without human intervention (Anderson et al., 2014). These
vehicles leverage a suite of LiDAR, radar, cameras, and GPS to gather information about their surroundings, while
AI works in real-time, processing that data to drive and perform decisions related to obstacle detection and
managing traffic flow. Considering their huge contribution to reducing traffic accidents, which are overwhelmingly
caused by human error and improvement of general traffic flow thus seriously easing congestion in urban
environments, the transformative potential of AVs is not limited to individual transportation (Nikitas et al., 2019).
Nonetheless, this rapid technological development of autonomous vehicles enhances society's critical concerns,
including ethical debates, regulatory challenges, employment displacement, and readiness of public infrastructure,
all of which are crucial to be addressed with the integration of autonomous vehicles into future urban planning and
transportation networks.

2. History and Development of Autonomous Vehicles

The concept of autonomous vehicles began in the mid-20th century, while the first attempts to automate vehicle
control date as early as the 1920s (Nikitas et al. (2019). Their proposition represented radio-controlled cars, some of
which were shown by Houdini Radio Control, but gave a glimpse into driverless vehicles. However, significant
technological advancement was not achieved until much later. The turning point was in the 1980s when advances in
sensors and computing meant that more sophisticated automation was possible. Specifically, two projects, the
Navlab project of Carnegie Mellon University and Eureka Prometheus at Mercedes-Benz, both managed to produce
semi-autonomous prototypes. These used simple sensors and computing systems to guide their respective vehicles
along roads, a precursor to what could be next in autonomous driving (Litman, 2023). The exponential growth of
autonomous vehicles in the 21st century catalyzes improvements in AI, algorithmic changes in machine learning,
and sensor technologies. The turning point came in 2009 when Google announced it was working on its Waymo
project, making the company the first to deploy self-driving vehicles on public roads. This effort ushered in a new
era for autonomous vehicles, attracting the attention of big automotive and technology companies. Soon after,
Tesla, Uber, and General Motors followed suit by developing their systems of autonomy and even conducting trials
in real-world environments (Schwarting et al., 2018).

3. Advantages of Autonomous Vehicles: Impact on Transportation and Modern Civilization

Autonomous vehicles are hailed as forerunners of a paradigm shift in road safety due to their potential to surmount
the most pressing challenge of humans. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that over
90% of road accidents are linked to some form of driver error, whether because of distracted driving, fatigue, or
impaired judgment (NHTSA, 2022). With the implementation of sensors, AI, and real-time data processing,
autonomous vehicles are designed to rid the driving environment of these issues and, hence, allow for constant
monitoring without the slightest possibility of distraction or impairment. Autonomous vehicles also react faster than
any human driver to a shift in road conditions, thus reducing collisions and improving general road safety. This can
be considered the most significant positive side of autonomous vehicle technology (Goodall, 2016). Another key
advantage is its potential to drastically reduce traffic accidents, with some estimates indicating that many lives
could be saved every year through its adoption.
Besides collision safety, they can contribute to traffic management and environmental sustainability. From a
technological standpoint, autonomous systems would be able to optimize routes in real-time, easing congestion
through more efficient driving patterns. This may prove most effective at higher levels, such as with advanced
technologies targeting platooning, where vehicles drive in synchronized groups that reduce stops and starts,
especially occasioned by traffic congestion, which wastes fuel needlessly (Schwarting et al., 2018). Consequently,
autonomous vehicles could reduce emissions by ensuring smoother, more fuel-efficient travel, thus helping to fight
climate change worldwide. In addition, improvements in mobility for autonomous go beyond environmental and
efficiency advantages. They also have the potential to greatly improve the access of people who struggle with
traditional driving, such as the elderly and disabled individuals, which will, in turn, foster independence and social
isolation (Martinho et al., 2021). The transport and logistics industries also benefited economically from the
innovations. Cost savings could come from lower demands on human drivers, particularly if AVs were deployed.

4. Size and Growth of the Current Autonomous Vehicles Market

Various industry estimates projected that the autonomous vehicle market has significantly grown over the last
decade and will reach over $37 billion by 2030 (Martinho et al., 2021). Among these regions, North America is
presently the largest market, with leading firms such as Waymo, Tesla, and General Motors, while Europe and the
Asia-Pacific are emerging as key development hubs for AVs. The demand for autonomous driving technology has
grown with the rise of ride-sharing services, logistics companies, and public transportation sectors. Companies like
Uber and Lyft have invested intensively in autonomous vehicle research, with pilot programs for autonomous ride-
hailing already deployed in several cities (Webb et al., 2020). Similarly, the logistics industry, notably in freight
and last-mile delivery, is adopting autonomous vehicles to optimize operations. Rapid technological developments,
in addition to supporting regulations within key markets, fuel growth in the AV market due to increasing consumer
demand for safer and more efficient solutions for transportation (Anderson et al., 2014). However, high
development costs, public skepticism, and regulatory hurdles continue to shape the pace of adoption.

5. Challenges/Disadvantages of Autonomous Vehicles

Despite the rapid advancements in technology, various technological and safety issues remain key challenges to
widespread adoption (Martinho et al., 2021). Autonomous vehicle systems heavily rely on a large number of
sensors such as LiDAR and cameras and complex data processing for circumvention. Nonetheless, these
technologies do not guarantee safety where, for instance, heavy rain or fog can mask the sensors, and these may, in
turn, disrupt performance and even cause system failure (Schwarting et al., 2018). Besides, real road environments
are too unpredictable, and an AV would hardly have any chance of interpreting what is happening around it. For
instance, in cases of erratic behavior by humans or temporary obstacles on the road. Besides technical challenges,
there are several ethical dilemmas and societal issues that complicate the adoption of Avs (Webb et al., 2020).
Another pressing issue is the ethical decision-making of AVs while in a potential crash situation, often known as
the "trolley problem." The question of whether AVs should save their passengers or pedestrians in the event of an
unavoidable accident has elicited the ethical considerations debate as programming moral judgment into machines
has remained a key ethical challenge (Goodall, 2016).
6. The Future of Autonomous Vehicles
The future of autonomous driving looks promising but will likely evolve gradually. Level 4 autonomy, where
vehicles can handle most driving tasks but still require human intervention in certain conditions, is expected to
become more common by 2030 (Nikitas et al., 2019). Full autonomy at Level 5, where they require no human input
whatsoever, may take some more time for complex technical challenges to be met along with their legal and ethical
issues. Rising smart cities are considered one of the major trends that work as the future of AVs, which will
seamlessly integrate with other smart technologies such as IoT and 5G networks. Additionally, fully autonomous
electrical vehicles have the potential for a huge share in the further reduction of carbon emissions during the
transition to sustainability across the globe (OECD, 2023).

7. Government's Role in Regulating Autonomous Vehicles

Governments play a significant role in determining the future of self-driving cars through regulations and policies
(Webb et al., 2020). Governments have developed new regulations that consider safety standards, liability issues,
and insurance frameworks to minimize the risks of autonomous vehicles. For instance, the United States of
America, through its NHTSA, has issued some guidelines concerning the testing and deployment of autonomous
vehicles with a great focus on safety through innovation (NHTSA, 2022). Similar efforts are underway across
regulatory bodies throughout Europe and Asia as governments try to balance public safety with competitive
participation in the global market for AVs. Most governments are also seriously working on new insurance models
and liability laws to handle these uncertainties and ensure that fair compensation is paid for victims in cases of
accidents involving Avs (Nikitas et al., 2019)

8. Conclusion and Recommendations

The rise of autonomous vehicles reflects a paradigm shift in both transportation and society as a whole.
Autonomous vehicles could dramatically alter the future of human transportation and product delivery with
enhanced safety, productivity, and accessibility. Nonetheless, there remain many critical barriers, most of which are
technical, and range from ethical considerations to the requirement for appropriate regulatory frameworks.
Governments, car manufacturers, and technology companies should collaborate on the development of regulatory
frameworks that balance protection with innovation while considering security and ethics. To address public
skepticism, transparency in AV testing and data privacy practices should be prioritized alongside public education
campaigns about AV benefits.
Referencing
Anderson, J. M., Nidhi, K., Stanley, K. D., Sorensen, P., Samaras, C., & Oluwatola, O. A. (2014). Autonomous
vehicle technology: A guide for policymakers. Rand Corporation.
Goodall, N. J. (2016). Can you program ethics into a self-driving car? Ieee Spectrum, 53(6), 28-58.
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7473149/
Litman, T. (2023). Autonomous vehicle implementation predictions: Implications for transport planning. Victoria
Transport Policy Institute. https://www.vtpi.org/avip.pdf
Martinho, A., Herber, N., Kroesen, M., & Chorus, C. (2021). Ethical issues are focused on by the autonomous
vehicles industry. Transport Reviews, 41(5), 556-577. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2020.1862355
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2022). Automated Vehicles for Safety.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/automated-vehicles-safety#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20NHTSA
%20launched%20Automated,information%20using%20NHTSA's%20interactive%20tool.
Nikitas, A., Njoya, E. T., & Dani, S. (2019). Examining the myths of connected and autonomous vehicles:
analysing the pathway to a driverless mobility paradigm. International Journal of Automotive Technology
and Management, 19(1-2), 10-30. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJATM.2019.098513
OECD. (2023). Preparing Infrastructure for Automated Vehicles. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/preparing-
infrastructure-for-automated-vehicles_b96ca198-en.html
Schwarting, W., Alonso-Mora, J., & Rus, D. (2018). Planning and decision-making for autonomous
vehicles. Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems, 1(1), 187-210.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-control-060117-105157
Webb, N., Smith, D., Ludwick, C., Victor, T., Hommes, Q., Favaro, F., ... & Daniel, T. (2020). Waymo's safety
methodologies and safety readiness determinations. arXiv preprint arXiv:2011.00054.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.00054