The Moral Decision-Making Capacity of Self-Driving Cars: Socially Responsible Technological Development, Algorithm-driven Sensing Devices, and Autonomous Vehicle Ethics.

• Author: Riegler, Carolyn

1. Introduction

   At the topmost degrees of automation, highly autonomous vehicles are regulated by self-governed machine agents, reaching resolutions without the unswerving mediation of humans. (Schuelke-Leech et al., 2019) Autonomous vehicles inherently involve a decrease of agency and therefore supply a pragmatic framework in which to investigate its effect. (McManus and Rutchick, 2019) If self-driving car algorithms give precedence to the protection of passengers, they may unfairly amplify the jeopardy borne by pedestrians. (Rahwan, 2018)

2. Conceptual Framework and Literature Review

   Autonomous vehicles inevitably bring about circumstances in which "drivers" cede operation to a machine. (McManus and Rutchick, 2019) Via cutting-edge driver assistant systems, algorithmic resolutions shape considerably the performance of cars in ordinary traffic. (Dietrich and Weisswange, 2019) Decreasing the speed limit on a road diminishes the practicality for car users who plan to arrive home swiftly, while intensifying the entire protection of drivers and pedestrians. (Rahwan, 2018) In circumstances where an autonomous vehicle must select between direct slowdown into an inevitable crash and swerving into an inescapable impact, where there are no other vehicles concerned, the car should invariably opt for the straight-line alternative. Supplementary data concerning the objects to be bumped into is negligible, as there is no possibility for the vehicle to collect that information without increasing the risks of the situation. (Davnall, 2019)

3. Methodology and Empirical Analysis

   Building my argument by drawing on data collected from the AUVSI, Black & Veatch, Capgemini Research Institute, Ipsos/GenPop, Perkins Coie, Pew Research Center, Statista, I performed analyses and made estimates regarding how much consumers agree or disagree that self-driving cars will make driving more relaxing/safer/faster/easier/friendlier to the environment/more economical/more enjoyable/more comfortable, the most attractive technologies for investment for autonomous vehicles over the next five years (5G technology/vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication technology/advanced driver assistance systems/precision mapping platforms and location technology/machine learning and driving data analysis/connectivity and infotainment features), and % of U.S. adults who say the number of people killed or injured in traffic accidents will increase/decrease/stay about the same if driverless vehicles become widespread. The structural equation modeling technique was used to test the research model.

4. Results and Discussion

   Ethical issues should be compulsory for any algorithmic resolution of self-driving cars. Such a righteously regulated behavior is pertinent as self-driving cars run in a collective public area, where every interactive decision affects the operational capabilities of others, being in connection with the accomplishment of...