As some groan on the advent of Self-driving cars in the society (popular example is the protest of Uber drivers in Pittsburgh who are being displaced of their jobs), to persons with disabilities, it is a blessing considered necessary in the society and are eager for its massive arrival in the markets.
Today, Sam Schmidt, a car-racer whose spinal cord was severely injured in a crash at the Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Florida in 2000, rendering him paralyzed from the neck down, is set to receive the first license restricted to a semi-autonomous vehicle in the U.S. The license allows him to drive on Nevada roads in his specially modified Corvette.
Although, the license requires a licensed driver accompany him in the passenger seat to take over in case of emergency, he must follow a pilot car and he can't drive in ice or snow, the 52yrs old man seems so happy to be back on the road.
Currently, Schmidit drives a C7-generation Chevrolet Corvette Z06 modified by Arrow Electronics to include four cameras which monitors his head and transmits his movement to the tires. His breaths into a custom headset accelerates the car and he sucks the air out when he wants to brake.
Many companies are thinking in this line to assist the disabled. Google has worked closely with the blind while developing its self-driving cars. Tesla Motors has reported that it is working on an urban transport vehicle that would accommodate wheelchairs. Arrow Electronics reported that it is working on other projects, including a modified bicycle for a paraplegic athlete.
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