Autonomous Trap 001 Mocks Driverless Cars
Joey Haar — March 29, 2017 — Art & Design
References: booktwo.org & weburbanist
'Autonomous Trap 001,' an art project by writer and conceptual artist James Bridle, is a clever, winking merger of vanguard technology and ancient pagan ritualism. Though the exhibit is little more than markings on a rest station off of a Greek highway, it deftly calls out the inherent absurdity in one of the most hyped technological innovations currently in vogue: autonomous vehicles.
Autonomous Trap 001 consists of a contiguous circle of salt surrounded by another, perforated circle of the same. Alone on the highway, the markings look odd, but when an autonomous vehicle falls into the trap, its purpose becomes more clear. According to the rules of the road, vehicles can cross over dotted lines but not back over solid lines. Self-driving cars, which rely on machine vision to operate, would thus cross into the circle and be stuck, unable to break the rules. The trap is thus a modernized version of pagan circles that summon spirits.
Autonomous Trap 001 consists of a contiguous circle of salt surrounded by another, perforated circle of the same. Alone on the highway, the markings look odd, but when an autonomous vehicle falls into the trap, its purpose becomes more clear. According to the rules of the road, vehicles can cross over dotted lines but not back over solid lines. Self-driving cars, which rely on machine vision to operate, would thus cross into the circle and be stuck, unable to break the rules. The trap is thus a modernized version of pagan circles that summon spirits.
Trend Themes
1. Autonomous Vehicles - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop technologies to enable autonomous vehicles to detect and avoid traps set by humans or navigate through them without being immobilized.
2. Artificial Intelligence - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Use AI technology to enhance the capabilities of autonomous vehicles, enabling them to analyze and navigate complex road conditions.
3. Conceptual Art - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the intersections of art and technology, creating thought-provoking projects that challenge societal norms and assumptions about emerging technologies.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with autonomous vehicle manufacturers to develop countermeasures or solutions to avoid traps set by humans.
2. Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop AI-based solutions to enhance the functionality and safety of autonomous vehicles.
3. Art - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Fuse art and technology to create immersive and thought-provoking experiences that explore the impact of emerging technologies on society.
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