It could be a LOT easier if it didn't have to conform to DARPA rules. For example, the DARPA vehicles have to have no remote link to anything outside the vehicle, EXCEPT the emergency kill switch (or whatever they call it) that allows the vehicle to be shut down if required for safety reasons. Any wonder then that no vehicle has pbutted DARPA yet? You basically have to have a supercomputer on board to process all the information being fed to the vehicle from CCTV, radar or whatever else is being used to "guide" it. That's because the car ITSELF has to make all decisions about acceleration-braking-steering with nothing at all outside the car to guide it. (YIKES!)
But a self-driving car could be really EASY to make, in comparison, with less electronic gadgetry than that which powers most modern calculators. The real hurdle is building the infrastructure needed to support self-driving vehicles. Like retro-fitting all roadside signs (even the mile markers) with RFID or something that the car can sense. Then installing sensors in the roads and bridges to allow automated steering (something to aim at, or steer AWAY from). ETC. It will be a major headache. But the car itself, will be really rather simple, as long as it doesn't have to conform to DARPA. -Dave
