This story was delivered to BI Intelligence IoT Briefing subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here.Self-driving cars will arrive sooner or later, but consumers remain divided on many issues tied to these vehicles.A journal called Science released a study of 2,000 U.S. residents on Thursday that pointed to a major ethical dilemma that could affect consumer adoption of fully autonomous cars.The study revealed that respondents think self-driving cars should sacrifice the passengers inside the vehicle for the greater good during an emergency. If, for example, the car was about to hit a large group of pedestrians, then the respondents said the car should swerve to avoid them even if it risks the lives of the passengers.But at the same time, the respondents said they themselves would rather ride in a self-driving car that protects them at all costs, even if it meant harming pedestrians or other drivers during an emergency.This is an extremely complex ethical dilemma, and self-driving car manufacturers must carefully navigate these questions in order to convince the public to buy and ride in these vehicles. The respondents in this survey had conflicting thoughts on what autonomous cars should do in emergencies. But if the cars can't protect passengers in the first place, then people likely won't ride in them.This could slow purchases of self-driving cars even though these vehicles should significantly improve road safety. Regulators have repeatedly stated that vehicles can be programmed to save as many lives as possible, and researchers have estimated that massadoption of self-driving cars could save up to 300,000 lives per year, reports The Atlantic.Still, self-driving cars will arrive at some point, but the makers of these cars will have to deal with several issues and roadblocks in order to get the vehicles on the road.John Greenough, senior research analyst for BI Intelligence, has compiled a detailed report on self-driving cars that examines the major strides automakers and tech companies have made to overcome the barriers currently preventing fully autonomous cars from hitting the market. Further, the report examines global survey results showing where fully autonomous cars are highly desired.Here are some key takeaways from the report:Three barriers have been preventing fully autonomous cars from hitting the road: 1) high technological component prices; 2) varying degrees of consumer trust in the technology; and 3) relatively nonexistent regulations. However, in the past six months, there have been many advances in overcoming these barriers.Technology has been improving as new market entrants find innovative ways to expand on existing fully autonomous car technology. As a result, the price of the components required for fully autonomous cars has been dropping.Consumer trust in fully autonomous vehicle technology has increased in the past two years.California became the first US state to propose regulations. California's regulations stipulate that a fully autonomous car must have a driver behind the wheel at all times, discouraging Google's and Uber's idea of a driverless taxi system.In full, the report:Examines consumer trust in fully autonomous vehiclesIdentifies technological advancements that have been made in the industryAnalyzes the cost of fully autonomous technology and identifies how cost is being reducedExplains the current regulations surrounding fully autonomous carsTo get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options:Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIPPurchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORTThe choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, youve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the emerging world of self-driving cars.Join the conversation about this story
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