1. Introduction/overview of the topic and issues to be discussed: While the idea of ​​self-driving cars seems futuristic and distant, society is actually very close to seeing them on the road. Taking the steering wheel away from humans and putting it in the hands of computers and artificial intelligence will obviously change travel forever. As a result, there are many questions that need to be addressed before people feel comfortable trusting automated vehicles. What kind of technology will be needed to ensure self-driving cars operate safely and think like humans? Will they really make the streets safer? Will people buy them? How will they affect traffic? 2. History of Cars and Self-Driving Vehicles First, let's start with the progression of cars to early innovations included electric start, four-wheel hydraulic brakes, windshield wipers, automatic transmission, power steering, front-wheel drive, and independent suspensions. In the 1940s, when cars had already established themselves in society and began to modernize, manufacturers began to improve the appearance of cars and the power of engines (Hosansky). In the 21st century, environmental concerns have pushed manufacturers to design electric cars and cars with hybrid engines. The constant developments have led some people, including Francis P. Houdina, to dream of science fiction-like scenarios in which cars could one day drive themselves (Hosansky). In 1925, Houdina introduced a radio-controlled, driverless car that navigated traffic on Broadway and Fifth Avenue in New York City (Hosansky). Houdina's vehicle had an antenna that allowed it to be controlled by a second car, which followed it closely and sent out radio signals. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, tests showed that buried magnetic wires could manipulate cars. However, technological progress led some to believe that vehicles could be designed to operate on their own without special road devices (Hosansky). In 1991, Congress passed legislation requiring the U.S. Department of Transportation to come up with an automated vehicle and highway system. This legislation gave rise to numerous demonstrations of automated vehicles, such as. Although most people haven't realized it, many of the important features that would be needed for self-driving cars already exist. Many vehicles use advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, such as rearview cameras, lane monitoring, and automatic braking systems (Snyder). As you might imagine, using enough ADAS essentially allows vehicles to run themselves. Another concern with self-driving vehicles is their ability to react to obstacles and comply with traffic laws. Google has implemented a laser system and other sensors to account for this problem. Google engineer Chris Urmson says the 64-beam Velodyne laser “is the heart of our system” (Guizzo). The laser produces a complete 3D map of your surroundings; the car then uses laser measurements and other maps to analyze data patterns, allowing it to drive while avoiding obstacles and respecting traffic laws. Additionally, four radars attached to the front and rear bumpers allow the car to "see" far enough to assess fast-moving traffic on highways, and a camera positioned near the rearview mirror that identifies traffic lights makes it appear as if a human is behind the vehicle . wheel