Apr 10, 2012, 10:50am ET

Former GM exec predicts self-driving vehicles by 2020

Napping on the way to work could be a reality by 2020.

Self-driving vehicles have long been the subject of science-fiction, but General Motors' former research and development chief says the technology will be on our roads by the end of the decade.



Speaking at the University of Michigan Robotics Day, Larry Burns, former head of GM's r&d division, boldly predicted that self driving vehicles will be on U.S. roads by the year 2020. Moreover, Burns expects most of the technology needed for a self-driving car to be available by 2015.



"By 2015 we're going to have auto companies selling features that are akin to cruise control on steroids," Burns told Automotive News. "We're in this five- to 10-year window when it's going to be really exciting... By 2020 we'll have self driving cars."



During his time at GM Burns oversaw the development of a self-driving Chevrolet Tahoe SUV nicknamed Boss, which won the DARPA Urban Challenge in 2007.



GM's bankruptcy shortly after the success of Boss put the brakes on the automaker's self-driving vehicle development, but Internet giant Google has been developing autonomous vehicle technology for the last several years. Google's work will likely be a critical part of getting self-driving vehicles into the hands of real-world owners.



However, plenty of hurdles remain before self-driving vehicles roam the roads on the United States, including legal issues. But Burns is confident those barriers will eventually work themselves out.



"We're going to have to have policies and laws to figure out whose liable when driving this car," he said. "As an innovator, you've got to anticipate all of this. I think the market is really going to be the thing to drive this, not the government."