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What’s it like to drive a car that drives itself? To give a computer full control of your destiny, on the highway, at 70 miles an hour?
开着一辆自动驾驶汽车是什么感觉？是不是将你的小命交给电脑，让它指引汽车在高速公路上以每小时70英里的速度行驶？
It will happen to you, maybe not in five years, but definitely within 15. You’ll be on the highway and hit a button and the car will take over, navigating through slow traffic and allowing you to tap away at your cell phone or even take a short nap.
你迟早会体会到这种感觉，也许5年内还不行，但15年内绝对可以。上了高速，你只要按下一个按钮，汽车就会开启自动驾驶模式，你可以玩一会儿手机，甚至睡上一觉。
Well, I’ve experienced it already, in the very first week of 2015, on a 560-mile road trip from Silicon Valley to Las Vegas. On behalf of Fortune, I was one of five journalists to experience an autonomous car at this advanced level.
2015年的第一个星期，在一段从硅谷前往拉斯维加斯，长达560英里的旅程中，我体验了一番这种感觉。作为代表《财富》的记者，我荣幸地成为率先体验一款技术先进的自动驾驶汽车的五名记者之一。
The car was an Audi A7 that looked exactly like any other, if you discounted the special paint job and the words “Audi Piloted Driving” on the sides. The oddest part was just how quickly I got used to the car making decisions for me at highway speeds.
除去特殊的涂装和车身上的“奥迪自动驾驶”字样，这辆奥迪A7看起来与同型号的其它车辆没有任何区别。最奇妙的是，我很快就习惯了它在高速公速上替我做决定。
All the major automakers are in a race to develop the first fully autonomous car, and if you listen to some of the companies it sounds as if a robotic chauffeur will be taking over grocery-getting duties any day now. Don’t believe them. Neither the technology nor the laws governing it are anywhere near that point. Your 10-year-old will still need his or her driving license in six years unless you plan to pay for Uber rides to the mall well into their 20s.
目前，市面上所有主流汽车厂商都在争先恐后地开发首款完全自动驾驶的汽车。在有些厂家的宣传词里，好像不久之后“汽车人”就能自动替你去买菜了。别相信他们。不论是在技术层面还是法律层面，我们离那个目标都非常遥远。你10岁的孩子六年后还是得考驾照，除非你打算让他们20多岁时还要通过Uber来叫车载他们去商场。
Nonetheless, Volkswagen Group-owned Audi was out to prove that it was ahead of the curve, and invited me to test drive a prototype sedan capable of “level three” autonomous technology (see accompanying story for definitions of those levels). The trip began from a hotel in Menlo Park, and I had visions of inputting “Las Vegas” into the navigation system, hitting the “go” button and kicking back with 1984 on my Kindle as the car whisked me away.
不过，德国大众集团旗下的奥迪公司想要证明他们已经在这个领域领先了一步，于是邀请我去试驾一款据说具备了“第三级”自动驾驶技术的轿车（这些等级的定义见本文附注）。这趟旅行的起点是门洛帕克市的一家酒店。在我的想象中，我以为只需要在导航系统里输入“拉斯维加斯”，按一个“走你”的按钮，车子就会载着我飞奔，然后我就可以用Kindle电子书悠闲地看《1984》了。
Not so much. This special prototype can only pilot itself in very specific situations. The basic criteria: 1) It drives itself only on well-marked freeways during the day and in favorable weather conditions; 2) A driver has to be in the seat at all times and ready to take back control immediately in an emergency situation (so no napping); 3) The driver gives up control while already on the freeway and takes it back before it’s time to exit.
事实上并没有这么简单。这台原型车只能在非常特定的情形下才能实现自动驾驶。基本条件是：1、它只能在标志明显的高速公路上才能实现自动驾驶，而且必须是白天，天气状况必须良好；2、驾驶员必须始终坐在驾驶座上，随时准备在紧急条件下立即转到手动驾驶模式（所以打盹是不可能了）；3、只有上了高速，司机才能开启自动驾驶，在车子下高速之前，司机就要重新接管汽车。
Audi engineers says they have done more than 50,000 miles of testing on public roads in America using this self-driving technology. But on this trip they weren’t leaving much to chance. They had run the long, southeastern route through Bakersfield at least six times previously. There were two German engineers in the car at all times. The one in the back had a laptop and was constantly screening data. The fellow in the right-hand seat paid keen attention to the road ahead. Disconcertingly, he also had his own gas and brake pedals.
奥迪的工程师表示，他们已经利用自动驾驶技术，在美国的公共道路上行驶了50,000多英里。但在本次旅途中，他们也不敢怠慢，而且已经沿这条向东南方经由巴克斯菲尔德的公路行驶了六次。这次车里依然始终坐着两名德国工程师。坐在后面的这位架着一台笔记本电脑，不停地检查各种数据。坐在副驾驶的那位始终谨慎地观察前方道路。比较尴尬的是，他的脚底下也有一套油门和刹车踏板。
The trunk of the car was filled with components from desktop computers, with a hydra of cords interconnecting them to the car. Also a bit disconcerting. But the interior looked almost entirely normal.
车子的后备箱里装满了台式电脑的部件，一大团数据线把它们与汽车联接在一起。这一幕看着也有点尴尬，但内饰基本上完全正常。
It’s at this point that I should mention that I’m an A-type driver. Years of training on the racetrack and practicing emergency maneuvers have not helped matters. You may think you’re a great driver. I would likely disagree. I love to be in the driver’s seat—and if I’m not, I’d just prefer to be outside the car. So yes, you might say I’ve got control issues.
我应该强调一下，我是A型血。多年的赛道训练和紧急操作练习也没有治好我的强迫症。你可能认为你是个很好的司机，但我很可能不这么认为。我喜欢坐在驾驶座上——如果开车的不是我，我宁可不坐这辆车。所以你可能会认为我的控制欲过强。
And while I like technology, I don’t really trust it. Computers crash all the time. They can be hacked and compromised and my Apple computer too often suffers that spinning ball of death. Was I really ready to turn over my life to a robotic overlord? Have we learned nothing from the Terminator movies?
另外，虽然我喜欢高科技，但我并不真心信任它。电脑还经常崩溃呢，或是被黑、中毒什么的，我自己的苹果电脑也经常死机。我真的准备好把宝贵的生命托付给机器人了吗？难道看了《终结者》系列电影后，我们什么教训都没学到吗？
So I was happy enough to be in control as we motored through a small California town in the prototype Audi, making our way toward Interstate 5. The prototype was in most regards still a stock A7, a sexy, swoop-backed sedan that I really love. It has lots of pep and a great suspension.
所以当我们沿5号公路来到加州一个小镇，换我坐到驾驶座上时，我还是非常高兴的。这辆原型车骨子里还是一台量产的奥迪A7，它是一款令人爱不释手、非常性感的溜背轿跑，动力充沛，悬挂也很出色。
Then we got on the freeway and a message appeared on my digital dash, informing me that “piloted” driving mode was available. Traffic was heavy and too closely spaced together. This truly would be a test of the technology.
然后我们又上了高速，这时数码仪表盘上显示出一条消息，提示称“自动”驾驶模式已经可以使用了。不过这时路上车流很大，车距很窄，这对该技术真是一项挑战。
I glanced over at the engineer and he gave me a confident nod. The lower stalks of the steering wheel have two extra buttons. You press and hold both simultaneously to engage the autonomous feature. I did so: an alert sounded and the steering wheel automatically retracted several inches, literally moving out of my hands.
我瞄了工程师一眼，他对我信心十足地点了点头。方向盘下面有两个额外的按钮。同时长按这两个按钮即可启动自动驾驶功能。我这样做了以后，车内响起了一声提醒音，然后方向盘收缩了几英寸，摆脱了我的掌控。
The A7 prototype uses an array of stock sensors, including radar and a front-facing camera, to navigate through traffic. It stays in the right-hand lane until it comes on slower-moving traffic, and then will engage its turn signal, pull into the left lane, and pass.
这台A7原型车使用了一系列传感器，包括雷达和正对前方的摄像头，用来感应车流状况。车子一直在右道行驶，如果遇见前车行驶太慢，它就会打转向灯，然后拐上左道超车。
Using the side stalk, I set the speed at 70 mph. The steering wheel was moving on its own, a ghost in the machine. We were approaching a slow-moving minivan quickly and I tensed, my foot hovering over the brake pedal. The car smoothly engaged the brakes, waited for a car on the left to pass, turned on the signal, passed the van and pulled back to the right. Seamless.
通过方向盘侧边的拨杆，我把速度设定为每小时70英里（约每小时112公里）。方向盘自动摆动，就像有个幽灵在开车一样。车子很快接近了一台开得很慢的面包车，我精神紧张起来，把脚放在刹车踏板上准备随时制动。但车子自动平顺地放慢了车速，等到左边的一辆车先超过去，才打了转向灯，超过了这辆面包车，然后又回到右侧车道，简直天衣无缝。
I stared straight ahead, hands in lap. Then I relaxed a bit. Then I got bored. I twisted in the seat and began chatting with the engineers. Then I started messing with traffic around me, planting both hands on the side window as cars passed. Look, sir! No hands. I got some strange looks. I even tried to attract the attention of a state trooper pulled to the side of the road. My engineer/minder wasn’t so amused.
我的眼睛直视前方，双手放在了膝盖上。然后，我放松了一会儿，很快就觉得无聊。我把座椅调整了个角度，然后开始和工程师们聊天。我开始望着周围的车流，有车子经过时，我就把两只手都伸到车窗外头。“看我大撒把！”人们对我投来奇怪的眼神。我甚至还试图吸引停在路边的交警的注意力。当然，那位工程师并不觉得我这样做有多么好玩。
Here’s what I liked: It was very easy to take back control. Simply grab the steering wheel and apply light pressure, and the system happily gives all controls back to you. You can also apply the brakes or gas and do the same thing. And the car still drove and handled like an Audi. It really wasn’t foreign at all: Easy to understand even easier to use.
我最喜欢的一点是：你很容易就能收回对车子的控制权。只需轻轻一拉方向盘，施加一点点力量，系统就会很高兴地把它的所有控制权交还给你。踩刹车或油门也能达到同样的效果。车子的操纵感仍然像一辆经典的奥迪。它完全没有陌生的感觉，了解它很容易，用起来甚至更容易。
What I didn’t like: The passiveness. It’s very hard to pay attention after a while. Being sort-of, kind-of in control is difficult. Either you’re all-in driving, or you’re not. Engineers say that when the technology eventually comes to market, the car should be able to perform some evasive maneuvers. But right now, if a car careens toward you the car can only slow down to avoid an accident. It’s up to you to perform more elaborate evasive action.
我不喜欢的一点是它的被动性。车子走了一阵子之后，你就很难集中注意力了，很难获得所谓的“控制感”。要么是用手动模式开车，要么不是。工程师们表示，等到这项技术最终投放市场，它届时应该可以进行机动规避。不过目前，如果一辆车子向你行驶的方向侧翻过来，车子只能自动减速以避免事故。要想进行更复杂的机动动作，就得靠你自己去手动操作。
As for accidents, we saw a lot of them that day on I-5. Fender benders mostly, but at least one serious incident the other direction. Audi says it is pursuing this technology because it saves lives, as the majority of accidents are the result of distracted driving.
说到事故，那天我们在5号公路上见到了很多交通事故，大部分是小刮蹭，但至少在反向车道上还是发生了一起严重事故。奥迪公司表示它正在积极推进这项技术，因为它可以挽救很多人的生命，因为大多数交通事故都是因为开车分心而导致的。
Meanwhile, our A7 stayed out of trouble and accident free, moving steadily to our destination, the Las Vegas Strip, which we would reach just in time for the annual Consumer Electronics Show.
我们的A7一路平安无事，也没有遇到事故，稳稳地驶向我们的目的地拉斯维加斯，刚好能赶上一年一度的CES消费电子展。
By the end of the trip, I was a believer. The technology is for real. Do I love it? Well, I certainly see the attraction, especially on a long boring route. And I do believe that it will eventually save lives.
等到这趟旅程结束时，我自己也成了自动驾驶技术的拥趸。这项技术是真真切切的。要说我喜欢它吗？我当然看到了它的优点，尤其是在行驶一段漫长而无聊的道路时。而且我也真心相信，最终它会拯救许多人的生命。
But I write about cars for a living. Fully autonomous driving would consign me to the ranks of scriveners, typesetters and harpoon salesmen. I guess at that point, I’ll be reviewing the fengshui of the interior.
不过，我是靠写汽车新闻谋生的。如果自动驾驶汽车技术完全成熟了，我只能去做代书人、打字员或是卖渔具之类的工作。估计到那时候，我也就只能评测一下汽车内饰的风水了。
For now, I’ll just say that the A7 self-driving car and I are frenemies.
现在，我只能说A7自动驾驶汽车与我是“亦敌亦友”的关系。
Sidebar: stages of self-driving cars
附注：自动驾驶汽车的发展阶段
Hoping for a car that will pick you up at your doorstep, whisk you to work, and then disappear around the block until it returns for you at 5 pm? For many engineers, such a fully automated and self-guiding car is the ultimate goal, but it will be many years until we actually see one.
你是否畅想过，你的汽车能像变形金刚一样，每天自动开到门口接你，载着你上班，然后自己消失了，直到下午5点钟又来公司接你？对于很多工程师来说，这种完全的自动驾驶和自动导航汽车仍是一个终极目标，我们可能还得等很多年才能见到它。
Experts have laid out five levels of automation, from the lowest (one) to that full robotic taxi (five).
专家们给自动驾驶划分了五个等级，从最低级（一级）到全自动机器人出租车（第五级）。
The first level is found on many luxury cars today. It’s referred to as a driver’s assistance program and include automatic cruise control, in which the car will slow or even stop when it senses slower traffic ahead. A lane-assistance system, which helps keep a car from straying beyond lane markings, is also considered level one.
当前的很多豪华车型已经具备了第一级功能。它是指驾驶员的辅助程序，包括自动巡航控制，也就是当汽车感觉到前方车速较慢时会自动减速甚至停车。车道辅助系统可以避免车子在行驶时越线，它也被视为第一级技术。
Level two is a car that can handle several tasks independently of the driver, including parking itself, with the driver outside the car controlling some aspects with a key fob.
第二级是指汽车可以脱离驾驶员，来处理几项任务，包括自动停车入位，不过通常是驾驶员在车外通过某种遥控器遥控的。
Level three is where things get more interesting. The Audi prototype that we tested was level three, and it can negotiate traffic on a pre-ordained route independent of the driver. However, it depends on a driver to be behind the wheel at all times, and to take over control at the beginning and end of the route. It also demands that the driver take back control in any emergency circumstance.
第三级更有趣些。我们试驾的这辆奥迪原型车就是第三级技术，它可以独立于驾驶员，自动在一条预先设定好的道路上行车。但它需要驾驶员全程坐在方向盘后面，并且要在自动驾驶模式开始前和结束后手动驾车。在紧急状况下也需要驾驶员接管车辆。
High automation is level four. This car will be able to find a safe area to pull off the road if the driver doesn’t respond to a call of action to take back over. It could also potentially drop you off outside of your building and then pull itself automatically into a pre-ordained spot in the public garage.
第四级是高度自动化。如果驾驶员没有响应汽车交回控制权的要求，它甚至可以自己找到一个安全的区域停在路边。它也可能会自动开到你的楼前接你，然后自动把自己停在公共停车场的一个预定车位上。
Five is the robotic taxi that would need no driver behind the wheel whatsoever. Which brings us to this question: When are we going go get those flying cars, anyhow?
第五级是根本不需要驾驶员坐在方向盘后头的“机器人出租车”。这也让我们不禁想问：那种会飞的汽车什么时候才能出现呢？（财富中文网）
