Robotic eyes on self-driving vehicles could reduce road accidents, says research

To ensure pedestrian safety from self-driving vehicles, a new study has proposed that installing robotic eyes on autonomous vehicles affects the psychology of walkers, improving their safety. During a research carried out by the University of Tokyo, participants were placed in a virtual reality (VR) environment where they were given the choice to cross a road in front of a moving vehicle. The result showed the participants could make safer or more efficient decisions when the vehicle was equipped with robotic eyes that either looked at the pedestrian (registering their presence) or away (not registering their presence). The major difference with self-driving vehicles, the researchers say, is that drivers may become more of a passenger. They may not be giving full attention on the road, or there may be nobody at the wheel at all.