A video clip making rounds on social media shows a remote-controlled car colliding with a stationary police van in Islamabad. The 13-second video, posted by a journalist, Muhammad Aalijah, shows him seated in the passenger seat of a car driven via a remote-controlled device. Aalijah is seen explaining features of the car, commending the talent that has made such technology possible, when the car suddenly steers out of control and bumps into a police van parked on the side of the road at D-Chowk.
The unexpected turn has attracted considerable criticism and witty remarks from netizens, and has also raised questions about whether technology can efficiently take over day-to-day tasks such as driving. Before the car bumps into a police van, Aalijah is seen attempting to pull the handbrake, but his efforts are in vain.
NEW: Driverless car hits police van after internet goes down during Pakistan demo pic.twitter.com/cBjKKuySWF
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When contacted by a local news network, Aalijah explained that the car was part of a technology-based automated driving project developed by Ehsan Zafar, an Abbotabad-based tech enthusiast. The car was being remotely operated using satellite and an internet disruption caused the car to get out of control. He explained that the purpose of uploading the video on social media was not to discourage innovators like Ehsan, but to warn people to exercise caution when dealing with emerging technologies. The incident occured in an area with very little traffic, had it taken place on a busy road, the consequences would have been fatal.
“Everything was fine until a technical fault occurred due to an internet disruption, causing the car to go out of control and crash into a police vehicle, ” he told the reporters. Despite technical difficulties, the hard work and dedication required to make such projects possible should be appreciated and further invested in.
This incident also provides an interesting insight into the future of Autonomous Vehicles (AV). While artificial intelligence and technical progress have made such technology possible, their efficiency may always require human oversight. This is mainly because the stakes involved even in minor technical difficulties are massive.
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