We're still waiting for self-driving cars, but autonomous boats are already here | CNN

We're still waiting for self-driving cars, but autonomous boats are already here | CNN

Fully self-driving cars have been promised for years, but despite numerous road trials and advances in technology, we’re still waiting.In 2016, Lyft predicted that most of its rides would be self-driving by 2021, while in 2017, General Motors said it would be mass producing fully autonomous vehicles even sooner. But creating a car able to handle every eventuality that can arise on every road is proving harder than anticipated.On the water, the situation is a little different: with fewer vehicles in canals, rivers, and on the open water than on roads, and without the problem of wayward pedestrians, autonomous boats have fewer obstacles to contend with. Additionally, boats often follow set routes – for example shipping routes and ferry crossings – so navigation is easier than with an autonomous car.