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Autonomous Cars Need To Predict The Future, Proper Driving Requires Scenario Modeling
Dr. Lance Eliot, AI Insider
Do you see the future?
Humans seem to have a relatively unique cognitively ability to envision the future.
We make predictions about what will happen in the future. Sometimes, the predictions are perhaps relatively obvious, such as if you see a coffee mug teetering on your office desk that you might make a prediction it will fall off the desk, hit the floor, shatter, and the coffee will spill. Pretty much any of us can make that kind of a prediction and “foresee” the future.
Young children at first aren’t very good at such predictions and even the coffee example might be a surprise to them as it seemingly suddenly tumbles off the desk. They learn though about existing events and circumstances and how to extend those events and circumstances into the future.
More complex predictions though begin to stretch out our cognitive abilities. Let’s suppose you are planning for a dinner party. You make arrangements to use a beautiful outdoor venue. The barbecue is setup, burgers and hot dogs purchased, buckets of ice are obtained, party hats are purchased, outdoor lights are obtained, you even buy some outdoor speakers to ensure that music will accompany the event.
