Jamie Hyneman, former host and executive producer of the Discovery Channel’s ‘Mythbusters’ served as host.  Hyneman quickly pointed out the reason for his involvement in the first-ever summit.

“I know the challenges that autonomy presents,” he said.

Marta Thoma Hall carried it much further when she underlined the message of safety that the industry is intent to face head-on.

“The concern about safety has been going on for 12 years,” she said. “We’re at a pivotal moment in the history of transportation.  The good part is we can save lives.  The difficult part is the way it’s rolled out.”

She said words matter greatly in the conversation.

“When you’re dealing with safety, it’s important to get the language correct.  We need answers for the public.  This is a brave excuse for us to come together.”

Underscoring the importance of the Safety Summit, Velodyne LiDAR’s chief technology officer, Anand Gopalan, caused listeners to lean forward in their chairs when he issued a bold statement.

“This is the fourth wave of the Industrial Revolution,” said Gopalan, the wave consisting of autonomy and artificial intelligence, and identifying the third wave as computers and smart phones.

Gopalan said that those in the AV business must learn from the mistakes made in the past.

“Safety must be paramount,” he said.  “It must be non-negotiable.”

Part 1: Velodyne LiDAR’s Safety Summit
Part 2: Let’s get it started
Part 3: Look, up in the sky!
Part 4: It’s a learning process
Part 5: And now, what about the DMV?
Part 6: Regulations. Responsibility
Part 7: Watch what you drink
Part 8: The driverless car rides
Part 9: That’s a wrap