Self-driving cars could help in mobility of the disabled

Self-driving cars could revolutionize how disabled people get around their communities and even travel far from home. People who can't see well or with physical or mental difficulties that prevent them from driving safely often rely on others – or local government or nonprofit agencies – to help them get around. Autonomous vehicle technology on its own is not enough to help these people become more independent, but simultaneous advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence can enable these vehicles to understand spoken instructions, observe nearby surroundings and communicate with people. An autonomous shuttle by Texas A&M University can create profiles with information on passengers' disabilities and communications preferences, as well as any frequent destinations. An autonomous shuttle, being developed by Texas A&M University, can be a solution for problems associated with access and funding to transportation for disabled people.