Events
Irving and Renee Milchberg Lecture: The Illusion of “Self”-Driving Cars
Event Start Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - 3:30 pm
Event End Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - 4:30 pm
Location: 1410 Toll Physics Building
Contact: Anne Suplee
About the Talk
Self-driving vehicles are set to arrive in the DC area in summer 2026—but are they truly autonomous? Despite industry claims, all current systems rely on remote human supervisors. This talk examines recent incidents and safety gaps, then draws on 35+ years of U.S. military UAV operations to highlight five key lessons for autonomous vehicles, from latency and workload to training and contingency planning—while challenging AI hype with a call for techno-realism.
Mary “Missy” Cummings
About the Speaker
Mary “Missy” Cummings is a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, engineer, and director of George Mason University’s Autonomy and Robotics Center. An AIAA Fellow and former senior safety advisor to NHTSA, she holds degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy, Naval Postgraduate School, and University of Virginia.
Paid parking is available on the roof of Regents Drive Garage. Please visit a pay station before you leave the garage roof. Additionally, the free #104 ShuttleUM bus runs between the College Park Metro Station and Regents Drive at about 15-minute intervals.
Questions? Contact the Department of Physics at physchair-rsvp@umd.edu or 301-405-5944.
Speaker(s): Missy Cummings, George Mason University