I recently saw a video of an electric car plowing into oncoming traffic to save a pedestrian. The split-second decision left both cars in ugly condition, but saved lives.
Experts analyzed the accident and praised the vehicle’s quick thinking. Equipped with a variety of sensors, cameras, radar, and artificial intelligence, it minimized human input and prioritized saving lives over avoiding oncoming traffic. But some analysts say a human driver would likely hit the brakes to save lives and avoid harm.
The bottom line was that despite great technology, self-driving cars are still a long way from achieving full autonomy. Today’s most advanced systems still operate at “Level 4” autonomy. This means that it can drive itself in certain situations, but human intervention may be required in complex scenarios such as bad weather or unexpected roadworks.
Level 5 autonomy, where cars can drive themselves under all conditions without human intervention, remains elusive due to the difficulty of predicting and responding to rare and unpredictable events.
Taking autonomous aircraft a step further will address complex problems. The stakes are much higher in the aviation industry, where safety and reliability must be airtight, so any malfunction can have fatal consequences. It works in theory, but it’s still a long way from practical use.
But if airplanes were countries, I would imagine that African political leaders have mastered the art of remote flight and are governing their countries “no matter where they are in the world.” If drones become a reality, the world must know that Africa is the first to do so politically.
When Vice President Kassim Shettima left for Sweden last Wednesday, Nigerians were understandably concerned that once again the country’s cockpit was empty. President Bola Tinubu departed for the United Kingdom on October 2, 2024 for a two-week working leave. He then left the UK for France on Friday, October 11, on “another important mission," his senior special assistant for political and other affairs, Ibrahim Masari, tweeted.
The visit to Sweden means that President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima will be leaving the country at the same time, a development that no sensible citizen would accept. This is the second time that both officers have been absent from their seats at the same time since taking office just 17 months ago.
In late April to early May 2024, while Tinubu was in London on personal business after visiting the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, Shettima left Nigeria, first heading to Kenya. He then departed for Texas, USA, but canceled his trip after receiving a recommendation from the Presidential Air Corps. However, the decision was up in the air. The presidential palace said Shettima’s (unofficial) jet veered mid-flight due to a technical defect. However, the two lead officers were absent for several hours.
There were no detours last Wednesday. Sweden was serious, but the backlash was huge. The visit comes at a time when the country faces tough domestic challenges, with Peter Obi, Labor’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, among the many Nigerians who have thrown stones at the regime. said.
Mr. Obi maintained that it was disturbing that Mr. Tinubu and his aides were not in the country when the people needed them most. He writes: “While it is arguable that the president and vice president are not at the villa, as reported in the media yesterday, there is no vacancy for the president in a situation where both the president and vice president are abroad. This is worrying for a country in trouble.”
He also questioned why the president, who is reportedly in Paris, about 833 nautical miles from Stockholm, did not attend the bilateral talks.
“He could have done it on his way back from France in a new powerful jet and the journey would have taken just over two hours. That would have saved him time and something we so desperately need at the moment. It would have saved very scarce national resources.
“Instead, we delegated the vice president, who would have to travel 3,055 nautical miles over nine hours (almost four times the travel time from Paris) from Abuja, Nigeria, to Stockholm, Sweden, to attend the event. I attended on behalf of the vice president.” band.
We may never know exactly why the president was sitting still in France. However, the Presidency said the absence of Tinubu and Shettima does not create a lack of leadership in Nigeria.
The presidential office claimed that the two key officials are working remotely and are “fully involved in national affairs even when they are away from home.” Onanuga said: “All state institutions are functioning normally. The President of the Senate, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministers and Service Secretaries are all in their respective positions to ensure the smooth running of government.
“The Constitution is a testament to our adaptability in a virtual age and does not explicitly require the president or vice president to be physically present in the country at all times to carry out their duties. .”
That means if the captain and co-pilot leave the cockpit mid-flight, all is still well. Tell the group of passengers in the air and watch the cabin turn red. Or tell them mid-flight that the captain and co-pilot are sitting in a room thousands of miles away and controlling the plane remotely. look? The concern is whether they can effectively respond to emergencies, severe turbulence and engine failure.
