Philosophical Considerations: The Ghost in the Machine
Author | Nathan Baker |
Pages | 153-167 |
153
chapter 7
PHILOSOPHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:
THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE
Autonomous vehicles will be driven largely by the algorithms programmed
into them. This means that the vehicle can access its decision-making
capabilities from the start. These capabilities may be upgraded or pro-
grammed to learn from experience, but the capability to learn allows
for testing through simulation in a manner that has more variables than
testing human experience on a person-by-person basis. Since not every
conceivable situation can be programmed for, and because driving can
involve inconceivable situations, programs must be developed to provide
for a decision to be made even when it has not been specifically considered
and a response predetermined by programmers.
A. WHAT IS AN ALGORITHM?
An algorithm is a set of rules to be followed in problem solving. The algo-
rithm determines the method with which an action is to be considered.
Algorithms can vary in complexity, from simple—“If an object is detected
in the vehicle’s path, then stop the vehicle”—to vastly complex, with num-
erous variables. Consider the number of steps and assessments a person
must undertake to answer a question such as “How does the vehicle
determine which item to strike if multiple objects enter the roadway and
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