Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are expected to initiate major changes in transportation systems, particularly in cities where multiple users share the transportation infrastructure. AVs can encounter scenarios where selecting a course of action gives rise to an ethical dilemma, such as determining which road user should bear a higher level of risk. This paper explores the application of the trolley problem in autonomous vehicle decision-making through a literature review. We first describe the trolley problem and how it can be used as a tool to solve ethical dilemmas revolving around AVs. Next, we introduce several ethical frameworks as solutions to trolley cases and discuss how these frameworks integrate within regulatory and cultural contexts. We conclude with a discussion on the ethical values involved in various dilemmas related to the deployment and operation of AVs.
