It's a Hokey Name, but I'm Applauding Nonetheless

This is pretty astonishing — fully autonomous, functioning vehicles running around and taking people places.

Why yes, it does look like a golf cart. That's the beauty of it, see? Who would be afraid of a cute little golf cart?

This thing was actually pretty amazing—it was driving all over the place, among bicyclists and pedestrians. Click on the pic, however, for a very frightened giant lightbulb. (Actually, there is video of a bunch driverless vehicles.)

It all worked out, though.

Why did they have to call them CyberCars? Apparently it's short for "cybernetic." If you say so.

Here's an article from Time, an interview with a guy who's saying just what this blog wants to hear:

The traveling public seems to be warming up to a driverless future. At a recent two-week-long test drive in Antibes, more than 3,000 people were able to take free rides in a CyberCar. Although some passengers might at first be nervous about cruising around town in a machine with no living navigator, Parent says, "in the end they will trust our technology." This gives new meaning to the term designated driver.

TIME Europe Magazine: Look Ma, No Hands -- Dec. 06, 2004