While everyone is looking forward for an era of self-driven Smart-cars, the recent verdict of a jury against Toyota holding it responsible for a crash in which a passenger was killed and the driver injured due to faulty firmware in their car raises some serious questions about software bugs causing fatal accidents.

Recently, Google revealed using customized version of Ubuntu Linux for their Smart cars. And after this verdict the big question which needs to be answered is - isn't like any other software platform the embedded smart-brain of these future cars suspectable to hardware/software defects and also vulnerable to already demonstrated car hacking/hijacking?

We recently shared a story showing the versatility and power of open-source computing with Linux, further strengthening the claim, Linux has now got another feather in it's cap when Ubuntu became the OS which is now not only powering Desktop, Laptops, Netbooks and mobile devices but also Self-driving Google Cars as unveiled by the following Google presentation at the embedded Linux conference.

As detailed by Google, they are using a customized version of the Ubuntu Linux OS optimized for real-time usage in their driver-less cars, the video also shows how Google modified the Ubuntu operating system for these particular usage needs and achieve exactly what they needed.

Publicly usable Google's Self Driving Cars looks like a distant future reality, but with the speed of progress made it does seem not too distant. After showing their computer controlled self-driving cars in closed circuits, Google has now taken them out on public roads - in an recent video Google's demonstrated a blind-man taking benefits of the technology to do his daily local chores. You can enjoy the exciting video after the jump.

Your car is about to get smarter, Renault R-Link - a tactile, integrated, connected tablet in future versions of your Renault branded cars will feature a large 18cm tactile display, steering wheel-mounted controls and speech recognition and will be powered by an integrated Android operating-system effectively opening the way to the car-as-a-platform.

R-Link aims to provide future Renault vehicles with affordable, intuitive multimedia connectivity, both with the outside world and with its users. There will be around 50 apps bundled with the device when launched initially and Renault will open an Renault app store for people to download their own apps.

Demo video after the jump.

We have seen this in science fiction movies and now it seems to become a reality as Google demoed there self-driven smart cars at ongoing TED 2011 conference, just feed-in the destination you want to reach and this automatic self-driven car packed with numerous sensors and powerful computer will get you there on it's own without any driver.

Don't believe, watch the videos after the jump.