Driving in the Dark: Designing Autonomous Vehicles for Reducing Light Pollution.

Area of Science:

• Engineering Ethics
• Environmental Science
• Transportation Technology

Background:

• Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are under development, with design choices still open.
• Current ethical discussions for AVs often focus on accident scenarios (trolley problem).
• Nighttime lighting is a critical infrastructure element for transportation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose designing autonomous vehicles to mitigate light pollution.
• To broaden the ethical considerations for AVs beyond accident dilemmas.
• To integrate light pollution reduction into AV development.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing "design for values" principles in technology development.
• Analyzing nighttime lighting as a key infrastructure consideration for AVs.
• Examining case studies of parking lots and highways for AV "driving in the dark" design.

Main Results:

• Autonomous vehicle design can actively reduce light pollution.
• A better balance between lighting and darkness is achievable through AV design.
• Integrating AVs necessitates addressing nighttime lighting issues.

Conclusions:

• Engineering ethics should incorporate values like light pollution reduction during AV development.
• Future AV design can contribute to environmental goals by managing light pollution.
• The development of AVs should be informed by light pollution debates.