Autonomous Cars

[RoryN]

They're coming, and there'll be no stopping them. So, thoughts?

 

[Colonel Hogan]

I'm really looking forward to it. It will almost certainly reduce injuries and deaths on the highways by a substantial amount and speed traffic flow. It may never come to local secondary routes, but automated major arteries will be a boon to most major cities.

 

[Lancecastor]

Autonomous Car Sex!

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--tNYw4D0W--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/1279845887669363601.gif

 

[Not Normal]

I think it's pretty interesting. I don't think the US will embrace it though. We're too much of a car culture.

 

[RoryN]

I'm really looking forward to it. It will almost certainly reduce injuries and deaths on the highways by a substantial amount and speed traffic flow. It may never come to local secondary routes, but automated major arteries will be a boon to most major cities.

I agree.

The silliest counterargument to self-driving cars is the idea that they'd be generally unsafe - it's the most obvious form of fear-mongering.

Sooner or later, an on-the-street reporter is going to ask someone about this; they'll respond with: "I dunno; self-driving cars just seem like they'd be dangerous"...right as two cars plow into one another on the road behind him because both drivers were checking their text messages.

 

[RoryN]

I think it's pretty interesting. I don't think the US will embrace it though. We're too much of a car culture.

California is the home of U.S. car culture for a myriad of reasons, and I can tell you that people here are chomping at the bit to get self-driving automobiles. It's also where a majority of the testing is going on, and early laws are being passed.

As long as you don't take away their `69 Chargers...

 

[1sickbastard]

They're coming, and there'll be no stopping them. So, thoughts?

I foresee autonomous cars integrated with metro and eventually nationwide "smart road" networks reducing traffic congestion, improving overall fuel efficiency and virtually eliminating driver error as the cause of accidents.

On the downside, such a system will impact the cash-flow of all jurisdiction which rely on traffic fines as a source of revenue, not to mention the private-sector which also makes a butt-tonne of money from defending those charges with such offences; lawyers, defensive driving classes, etc.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

I agree.

The silliest counterargument to self-driving cars is the idea that they'd be generally unsafe - it's the most obvious form of fear-mongering.

Sooner or later, an on-the-street reporter is going to ask someone about this; they'll respond with: "I dunno; self-driving cars just seem like they'd be dangerous"...right as two cars plow into one another on the road behind him because both drivers were checking their text messages.

Given the necessary interface between road surface and vehicle, I would expect that in the event of system failure the vehicles would be designed to slow down and stop safely. The challenge then would seem to be how would the vehicles independently clear a stoppage or obstacle like a dead deer on the road?

You know how people are NOW barging into a single lane of traffic or trying to switch lanes during a bumper-to-bumper slowdown. I would think that in a malfunction of an automated system such behavior would only be worse and more difficult to manage.

 

[Not Normal]

California is the home of U.S. car culture for a myriad of reasons, and I can tell you that people here are chomping at the bit to get self-driving automobiles. It's also where a majority of the testing is going on, and early laws are being passed.

As long as you don't take away their `69 Chargers...

I think, as long as both can coexist, people will be happy. I like the idea of general commuting to be automated. Get people to work, to the store, to the bar and back safely and efficiently, but still be able to take an enjoyable "Sunday drive" when desired. We'll need a lot of infrastructure, which could translate to jobs, and that is also good. I assume the automate cars will run on an alternative system for the human driven cars. I'm pretty excited to watch how this plays out.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

They're coming, and there'll be no stopping them. So, thoughts?

I think they will be able to stop.

 

[bronzeage]

Given the necessary interface between road surface and vehicle, I would expect that in the event of system failure the vehicles would be designed to slow down and stop safely. The challenge then would seem to be how would the vehicles independently clear a stoppage or obstacle like a dead deer on the road?

You know how people are NOW barging into a single lane of traffic or trying to switch lanes during a bumper-to-bumper slowdown. I would think that in a malfunction of an automated system such behavior would only be worse and more difficult to manage.

The engineering model of road-vehicle interface has pretty much been discarded. The current idiotmobile relies on GPS and object detecting sensors. The road-vehicle interface model is basically a version of the railroad. You have a specialized vehicle on a specialize road and no easy way to separate the two.

The real obstacle to driverless cars is the simple question, "Why?"

A regular automobile can be operated in complete safety by a control system which is mass produced by unskilled labor. It's hard to compete with that.

 

[RoryN]

I think, as long as both can coexist, people will be happy. I like the idea of general commuting to be automated. Get people to work, to the store, to the bar and back safely and efficiently, but still be able to take an enjoyable "Sunday drive" when desired. We'll need a lot of infrastructure, which could translate to jobs, and that is also good. I assume the automate cars will run on an alternative system for the human driven cars. I'm pretty excited to watch how this plays out.

Me too, for the reasons you list.

Automated general commuting will give people back a LOT of their time, every week, and time is the most valuable thing we have. Mind you, they'll still be within the confines of their cars...but they'll be able to work, rest, play board games with the kids, shag, nearly endless scenarios.

And what if I'd like a donut while I'm stuck in traffic? Sunroof, drone = donut delivery.

 

[RoryN]

The real obstacle to driverless cars is the simple question, "Why?"

I can think of a bunch of reasons but, for me, the most poignant one would be for millions of older people - or otherwise disabled people - who are no longer able to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Losing the independence which comes with driving can be devastating. A driverless car would be a solution.

 

[thør]

Autonomous slot cars. What could go wrong?

 

[RoryN]

Autonomous slot cars. What could go wrong?

Mainframe pulls the trigger a little too hard during a thrilling race, and the car goes flying off the track into a Cold Stone Creamery.

Other than that, no issues.

 

[bronzeage]

I can think of a bunch of reasons but, for me, the most poignant one would be for millions of older people - or otherwise disabled people - who are no longer able to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Losing the independence which comes with driving can be devastating. A driverless car would be a solution.

That is a tiny segment of the population for a product which must be produced in large quantities, to take advantage of economies of scale.

It still leaves us with the one man-four tires transportation model. It doesn't matter whether the car has a driver, or not, if there is not a parking space at both ends of the drive, the car is useless. Of course, a driverless car could circle the block until it's rider is ready to go home.

 

[RoryN]

That is a tiny segment of the population for a product which must be produced in large quantities, to take advantage of economies of scale.

Not that tiny, by any means.

Besides, uses for autonomous cars are as diverse and plentiful as the imagination can allow for. I'd very much like to send my car to get groceries rather than leave my home, for instance.

It doesn't matter whether the car has a driver, or not, if there is not a parking space at both ends of the drive, the car is useless. Of course, a driverless car could circle the block until it's rider is ready to go home.

Driverless cars will change everything about parking. My car can be parked virtually anywhere because it will come find me, no matter how far away it is. It will also take up far less space because the doors will not have to open in the space it is parked in. That alone will increase parking lot capacity by a tremendous percentage.

 

[bronzeage]

Not that tiny, by any means.

Besides, uses for autonomous cars are as diverse and plentiful as the imagination can allow for. I'd very much like to send my car to get groceries rather than leave my home, for instance.



Driverless cars will change everything about parking. My car can be parked virtually anywhere because it will come find me, no matter how far away it is. It will also take up far less space because the doors will not have to open in the space it is parked in. That alone will increase parking lot capacity by a tremendous percentage.

Yes, that will solve everything. End of problem.

 

[thør]

Mainframe pulls the trigger a little too hard during a thrilling race, and the car goes flying off the track into a Cold Stone Creamery.

Other than that, no issues.

Can i get strawberries in my French vanilla?