Things have been moving fast since we learned that an Uber autonomous drive test vehicle was involved in a fatal crash in Tempe, Arizona earlier this week. In our last discussion episode we urged restraint when discussing the incident itself, but with the release of video of the crash a terrifying scenario is coming into focus. Not only does it appear that Uber's autonomous drive system failed in fundamental ways, but so to did the safety driver who was supposed to be the last line of defense against "edge cases." In order to keep up with this rapidly-developing story, Alex, Kirsten and Ed got together to discuss what the video appears to show, what it means, and where Uber and the entire autonomous drive space needs to go from here. 

One important topic that The Autonocast has so far yet to discuss: how are autonomous vehicles shaping the world of car design? To help us delve into this fascinating issue, Alex, Kirsten and Ed are joined by former BMW design chief and current head of Chris Bangle Associates, the one and only Chris Bangle. Find out how architecture is impacting autonomous car design, what features autonomous vehicles will need to realize their potential, and how design has taken on anti-humanistic elements that need to be addressed in this new era. 

Autonomous cars are back in the news in a big way, as the inevitable has finally happened: a pedestrian was killed by an autonomous test vehicle. Kirsten, Alex and Ed discuss the incident itself, its impact on the autonomous drive sector, the political and regulatory environment around it, the discourse about it and the incentives shaping autonomous vehicle safety and testing. 

Mapping is one of the fundamental challenges that goes into autonomy, and some of the innovations going into the collection and use of mapping data are some of the most interesting in the space. This week, Ro Gupta of Carmera joins the Autonocast to discuss how his firm is partnering with cities and delivery services to create high-quality, dynamic maps for autonomous vehicles and applications beyond. 

At a time when the media is running stories about people attacking autonomous cars in San Francisco, one organization has become seen as the heart of darkness of the human revolt against robocars. But is The Human Driving Association really the shock troops of an anti-automation insurgency, or is the truth a bit more nuanced than that? The founder of the HDA, Autonocast co-host Alex Roy, joins us for an extended discussion of this most controversial organization.

If autonomous vehicles are the future, shouldn't there be more people who can work on them? From the educational system to retraining, much needs to be done to bring the necessary talent into the mobility technology space. From his experience at Carnegie Mellon and his time starting up Speak With Me, Ajay Juneja has a few thoughts on filling the talent pipeline for a new generation of smart cars.

With news that Ford is going to Miami to test its autonomous vehicle technology and business plan, we look back at past episodes that will help shed light on this move and look forward to try to predict the next city where AVs will deploy. We also discuss the new California DMV rules, Toyota's new billion-dollar AV company, the Jaguar iPace and the importance (or not) of big batteries and fast charging.

With a third generation of federal "policy guidance" in the works and national summit on AV regulation taking place today, we turn to one of the most insightful voices on the legal and regulatory issues surrounding autonomous drive technology. Bryant Walker Smith is a professor at the University of South Carolina law school, an affiliate scholar at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School, an adjunct clinical professor at the University of Michigan Law School and a member of the US Department of Transportation's Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation. If anyone can provide a clear overview of the tangle of issues surrounding this emerging technology in just 30 minutes, it's this guy.

In what may be the most trend-chasing-est episode yet, Alex, Kirsten and Ed discuss Porsche's new blockchain play (yes, really...), Stanford's research into a steering wheel "avatar," the rise of category-blurring shuttles and (of course) sexual harassment. It's the kind of episode where even the hosts aren't sure when to be snarky and when to be serious.