CMU’s latest vehicle, a 2011 Cadillac SRX that debuted in 2013 when it drove Pennsylvania Rep. Bill Schuster to the airport, “sees” both ways, analyzing images and constantly measuring its distance from landmarks surrounding it. What sets it apart from the Terregator, aside from speed and looks — the SRX can attain highway speeds and looks like an ordinary luxury SUV — is its ability to respond to other moving elements in its environment, from people to bicycles to other cars.

“Once you have to deal with other traffic and with pedestrians, things become extremely difficult,” Hebert said. “Then you have to consider decision-making in a fully dynamic environment.”