The concept of a car that drives itself is thrilling to some, disquieting to others. But it's no longer preposterous.
By the middle years of this decade, several auto makers could offer technology to make vehicles capable of piloting themselves under certain conditions without the direct participation of the driver.
The auto industry has intensified its research on how to link cruise control, steering, brakes and the cameras and sensors used for collision-avoidance systems into an integrated system able to guide a car safely.
Source
Wall Street Journal