随着自动驾驶出租车在伦敦继续进行测试，一个独立研究小组认为，英国在继续推进之前，需要回答一些严肃的问题。首先是主权问题，正如无驾驶员交通研究所（IfDT）所提出的：“英国是否会在任何关键活动上变得依赖自动驾驶汽车服务，如果供应商倒闭或退出，将存在哪些备用选择？”另一个问题关乎就业：“职业驾驶在多大程度上构成了英国就业安全网的一部分，如果对职业驾驶员的需求大幅减少，这一功能将如何重构？”
As robotaxis continue trials in London, an independent research group thinks the UK needs to answer some serious questions before heading any further down the road. To kick off, the sovereignty question, or "Will Britain become dependent on autonomous vehicle services for any key activities and what fallback options will exist if a supplier fails or withdraws?" as the Institute for Driverless Transport (IfDT) puts it. Another question concerns employment: "To what extent does professional driving form part of the UK's employment safety net and how will this function be recreated if demand for professional drivers is significantly reduced?"
无驾驶员交通研究所是一个专注于自动驾驶汽车影响的英国独立研究与召集机构，其目标是将范围扩大一些，而不仅仅是考虑软件是否足以在伦敦曲折的街道和小巷中导航。
The objective for IfDT — an independent UK research and convening body focused on the consequences of autonomous vehicles — is to cast the net a bit wider than simply thinking about whether the software is sufficient to navigate London’s wiggly streets and narrow alleys.
这项研究借鉴了与试图将自动驾驶汽车引入伦敦的运营商以及负责政策的监管机构合作的成果。它还依托了与地方议会、运营商、行业、工会、慈善机构、保险公司、律师和大学进行的30多次对话。无宁驾驶交通研究所联合创始人詹姆斯·赫特（James Hutt）表示：“在采访中，最让我们震惊的是这件事的影响范围有多广：延伸到了工作岗位、公共服务、建筑环境和国家韧性。最了解这些领域的人却很少参与到有关自动驾驶汽车的对话中。”
The research draws on work with operators trying to bring AVs to London and the regulators responsible for policy. It also relied on more than 30 conversations with councils, operators, industry, unions, charities, insurers, lawyers and universities. James Hutt, IfDT co-founder, said: "What struck us most in the interviews was how far this reaches: into jobs, public services, the built environment and national resilience. The people who know those areas best are rarely part of the conversation about AVs.
“我们的下一步是将资金和研究人员与需要答案的企业和公共机构汇聚起来。如果您能资助研究或提供测试场所，我们希望听到您的声音。”
"Our next step is to bring funding and researchers together with the businesses and public bodies that need answers. If you can fund research or offer a place to test it, we would like to hear from you."
今年8月，伦敦交通局（TfL）向自动驾驶汽车运营商授予了私人租用牌照，前提是行程中必须有人类驾驶员在场。此后，Wayve和优步（Uber）在英国首都推出了自动驾驶网约车，配备Wayve人工智能驾驶员的15辆福特野马（Ford Mustang）电动车将搭载乘客，车上配备一名安全驾驶员。英国公司Wayve还演示了一款日产聆风（Nissan LEAF），该车运行搭载NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion的Wayve人工智能驾驶员，并配备了更紧密融入汽车设计的自动驾驶设备。
In August, Transport for London (TfL) granted private hire licences to autonomous vehicle operators provided that a human driver is present during journeys. Wayve and Uber have since launched self-driving rides in the UK capital, with 15 electric Ford Mustangs, equipped with the Wayve AI driver, set to pick up passengers with a safety driver on board. UK company Wayve also demoed a Nissan LEAF, running the Wayve AI Driver using NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion with self-driving equipment built more closely into the car's design.
无驾驶员交通研究所指出，Waymo和百度也在为伦敦的服务做准备，而优步、小马智行（Pony.ai）和Verne已开始在曼彻斯特进行测试。该研究机构表示，英国当局仍需回答一长串问题，以便为地方制定长期基础设施规划，并为人工智能对劳动力市场的影响做好准备。谁来做这件事的问题也依然没有答案，正如无驾驶员交通研究所问到的：“哪些是应该已经预料到自动驾驶汽车对其自身工作影响的关键公共机构，这些组织中的哪些人应该领导应对工作？”
IfDT points out that Waymo and Baidu are also preparing services for London, while Uber, Pony.ai and Verne have begun testing in Manchester. The research organization said UK authorities still need to answer a long list of questions in order to shape long-term infrastructure plans for local areas and prepare for AI's impact on the labor market. The question of who needs to do this also remains unanswered, as the IfDT asks: "Which are the key public bodies that should already be anticipating the impact of AVs on their own work and who within those organisations should lead a response?"®