| In 2005 we saw some new innovations in robotics | | | | ads on Television for new cars which can avoid |
| used in transportation. We saw disputes erupt with Rail | | | | collisions, detect stopped traffic ahead, even tug on the |
| Road Unions over locomotives, which do not need | | | | shoulder harness and let of the gas, nudge the steering |
| conductors. We have seen more and more telematic | | | | will, while checking the next lane for traffic in the case |
| type information and communication, which flows | | | | of a slower vehicle in your lane. |
| between over the road trucks and dispatchers via | | | | In 2006 we will see the military seek assistance with |
| satellite. We have seen new mechanisms that | | | | linking up entire convoys of vehicles with no drivers in |
| dispatchers can use to track shipments within meters | | | | any of the vehicles. We will see automotive engineers |
| of their location, even completely shut down trucks, | | | | talk about programmable GPS systems which will not |
| which have been hijacked. | | | | only show you your destination on a map, but drive |
| Then we watched the DARPA Grand Challenge with | | | | you there, find a parking spot and parallel park your |
| driverless totally autonomous vehicles navigate steep | | | | car, without running a red light, breaking the speed limit |
| cliffs, tunnels and treacherous desert roads full of | | | | or flipping off other drivers along the way, while you |
| obstacles on a course over 200 miles long and still | | | | read your newspaper, watch the news and take a |
| average speeds of nearly 35 mph. In 2005 we saw | | | | few phone calls. |