Yes the automated technology is there and already on trial ( check Airbus ATTOL on google) Autonomous , not yet and not for a long time I would say .
As to the critics about automated in modes of transport, we should remember we are in the very early beginning of automated cars.sea and air transportation .
The first one that tried was the railroad : 2 dimensional . There are numerous trains and metro systems that are automated today . Public resistance and of "it will never work" cries by professionals were similar in the 1970-80's when they were introduced.
To take an example today 2 main metro lines in Paris are fully automated since years , run every 2 min at peak times ( compared to 4 before) and were the only lines operating without interruption during the long strikes last winter..
That last part also is an interesting one regarding automation and public acceptance..