UK Robotics Week: UK drivers say robotic cars will be safer

More than a quarter of UK adults polled in the UK Robotics Week survey believe that the biggest benefit of driverless cars will be fewer road accidents.

Picture by John Cairns

While 20% of adults polled in research believe driverless cars would make road rage less of a problem.

The research has been commissioned by the EPSRC UK-RAS Network, is being released ahead of UK Robotics Week (25 June – 1 July 2016).

“While widespread advent of fully autonomous, “never-need-a-driving-wheel” self-driving cars is sometime away the possibilities for safety, economy and efficiency of these devices is breathtaking,” said Professor Paul Newman, who is leading Oxford University’s Mobile Robotics Group that develops self-driving cars and related technologies.

Newman also pointed out that engagement with users’ fears, aspirations and expectations “is all part of the development of the technology.”

Other findings of the research into public attitudes to robotics advances include:
·         71.8% feel that autonomous driving would have a positive impact on everyday commuting
·         21.2% of respondents think that the automotive sector would deliver the greatest benefits from robotics in the next 10 years
·         While men believe automotive will benefit most, women voted medicine the top sector to gain from robotics technology during the coming decade (20.3%).

UK Robotics Week will highlight the role of robots and artificial intelligence in our lives.

UK Robotics Week will culminate in the celebration International Showcase event in London on Friday 1st July. This grand finale event will bring together the latest research from the UK and from around the world, offering talks and demonstrations from leading robotics nations including the UK, Japan, United States, South Korea, China, Italy, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates.

For full information about all the activities planned for UK Robotics Week.