Exploring the Role of Public Trust in the Adoption of Autonomous Driving Systems

Self-driving vehicles are among the most recognizable and potentially disruptive technologies on the horizon. As with any burgeoning technological network, the future of autonomous driving systems (ADS) remains unknown. This body of work explores multiple facets of the state and effect of the public's perception (i.e. "trust") of ADS. The common assertion these papers share is that trust is one of, if not the most important variable in the prospect of absorption of ADS as a market mainstay. This thesis contains both technical and non-technical papers contributing to this broader claim.