You'll also have an incentive to board. AAA is promising to donate $1 to the Las Vegas Victim's Fund for every passenger, with a minimum $100,000 pledge.

This isn't a bold commitment to self-driving technology given the modest route. It's going to be a long, long while before you can take a robotic ride to see a lounge show on the Strip. However, a successful test could make the case for more permanent rollouts both in Vegas and across the US. There could come a time where you can take an autonomous shuttle whenever you need it -- not just when human drivers are available.