Driven: The Race to Create the Autonomous Car

The self-driving car has been one of the most hyped technological breakthroughs of recent years, but early promises have proven premature. Wired editor Alex Davies follows the story of this technology from its origins to today, where it is poised to remake how the world moves.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 04 March 2021
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

The self-driving car has been one of the most eagerly anticipated technological advancements of recent years, with early promises that these autonomous vehicles would soon be hitting the roads. However, these initial predictions have proven to be premature, as the challenges of developing fully autonomous cars have proven to be more complex than initially thought.

The story of the self-driving car begins with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which was tasked with developing a land-based equivalent to the drone, a vehicle that could operate in war zones without risking human lives. DARPA issued a series of three "Grand Challenges" that attracted visionaries, many of them students and amateurs, who took the technology from Jetsons-style fantasy to near-reality.

The young stars of these challenges soon connected with Silicon Valley giants Google and Uber, intent on delivering a new way of driving to the civilian world. Automakers also joined the quest, some on their own, others in partnership with the tech titans. However, as road testing progressed, it became clear that the challenges of driving a car without human assistance were more formidable than anticipated.

Wired editor Alex Davies takes readers on a journey through the twists and turns of this story, profiling the industry's key players from the early enthusiasm to their growing awareness that while this spin on artificial intelligence is not yet ready for rush-hour traffic, driverless cars are poised to remake how the world moves.

Driven is an exciting exploration of this quest to transform transportation and change our lives. It sheds light on the technological advancements, ethical considerations, and societal implications of self-driving cars and provides a glimpse into the future of transportation. Whether you are a tech enthusiast, a transportation professional, or simply someone interested in the future of mobility, this book is a must-read.

Weight: 480g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501199431