It “looks like”:http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=184400297 it may not be too long before self-driving cars are technically feasible.

It’s probably too much to wish for to actually see something like this in production for quite a while though. For one thing, I suspect the public would have to get more accustomed to high levels of automation performing less potentially hazardous functions before it would be generally comfortable having a computer drive the car and negotiate traffic.

Also, just imagine the legal ramifications. Trial lawyers would have a field day. In my mind it’s practically inevitable that Congress will have something to say about it before the idea can get off the ground. I wonder if there are any laws on the books right now that would pose a problem for the Stanford team?