Implementable Ethics

for autonomous vehicles

- Alan Alonso
- Amit Krishna
- Kaustubh Ballal
- Nishikant Dange

- Sai Indrakaran Reddy Charabdi

- Piyush Upadhye
- Vaidehi Chinchulkar
1

Overview & Analytical thinking

Topic
o The autonomous vehicle interacts with the environment depending on the programming and the
priorities set by the programmer
o The vehicle system consists of a closed loop control system
o Social acceptance of these vehicles would largely depend on the way they define traffic and interact
socially

Facts & Figures

o
o
o
o

Emergency Stop button Big Red button

Perseverance to situation
Human: Harness power of brain
Machine: 360 sensing and greater ability in dark

Critical thinking
Risks, problems

Failure in detection of obstacle

Dilemma situations due to mathematical feasibility
Not initiate collision in order to avoid harm
If the time taken to reduce the gap between the desired path and the vehicle path is more, it becomes a
potential risk to the surrounding

Negatives
Disturbs the traffic (vehicle blocks the road behind itself )
Overweighing priority to human commands

Caution necessary
Capability to gain situational awareness beside driving

Optimistic thinking
Opportunities
More qualitative adjustment for vehicle
Need to improve the algorithms for pedestrian and cyclist recognition
The vehicle must be able to distinguish the make and model of another vehicle and road scenario

Benefits
Less lethal accidents
Less traffic rules violations

Feasibility
Societal acceptance to view AV as more capable to sense of agency and responsibilities
Is it ethical that AV returns to control of driver in case of collision or injury is imminent

Doing thinking
Conclusion
The programming and its variables play an important role for the vehicle to function and hence would
play a crucial role in the social acceptance of the same.
In order for autonomous cars to coexist with human drivers traffic rules must be bent in some specific
cases.
Ultimate authority either to lie with Human or Machine?

Relevance & Goals

Gaining trust via transparency to programmed priorities and belief in critical situations

Steps to go
Examining problem from mathematical perspective showing Deontological and consequentialists
perspective

Thank you!!!