Self Driving Car

[rekees4300]

What do you think about self driving (aka autonomous) cars? Would you ever buy one or ride in one? Should they even be legalize? What about the accident liability issues for the manufacturer and/or owner? Apparently Audi is planning on selling them soon.

Autonomous Audi A7 concept steers itself from San Francisco to Las Vegas for CES | Fox News

 

[kiotiken]

Tesla has already been shipping cars equipped for autonomous driving and a "super" cruise control feature, although the features have not been activated through software yet. We're still nowhere near having self driving cars with no steering wheel or pedals like Googles concept car, but it will come eventually, and I'm very thankful for that.

Most of the people on this forum live in rural areas (obviously). I'm banking on technology to allow me to stay in my home until the day I die. Thankfully I'm only 40 and (hopefully) have time for technology to develop. About the worst thing that can happen to a senior is having their licence taken. It's bad enough in the city where there are services they can use, but in the country, they may have few options. Imagine never having to worry about that, being able to get to any appointments, night or day.

The one thing I would have liked but was born a little too soon for is being able to put my colicky baby (or maybe my whinny 5 year old) in the car, say "Gramma's house" and close the door! I expect I'll be able to look forward to a few "special deliveries" from my kids one day.

 

[dave1949]

Google is working on a self-driving car. They have working models. An article I read a couple weeks ago interviewed the Google guy in charge of the project and they took a test spin. Interesting.

The programming is for very conservative "driving." The test car stopped and refused to proceed in a few odd-ball situations that a human driver would have had no problems resolving. The human driver had to take control of the test model when another vehicle pulled out right in front of the test car. That could have been an accident with or without self-driving by the way it sounded. Maybe the lesson there is autonomous autos would do better in situations without human drivers errors mixed in?

Google says it is not automotive technology; it is software technology--which of course they feel better equipped to do than automakers.

 

[stuckmotor]

My wife has a car that parks itself. I haven't tried that feature. I can't even get it to go into a parking space straight when I park it.

 

[Bird]

Thankfully I'm only 40 and (hopefully) have time for technology to develop. About the worst thing that can happen to a senior is having their licence taken.

And I'll turn 75 within the month, still have no problem driving, but also have sense enough to know I can't see or drive as well as I could 35 years ago, and I'd love to have a self driving car if it really worked.

 

[Oaktree]

I have mixed feelings on this. How does it know where the road is? I can sort of understand how on interstates or state highways with well marked lanes, but how does it handle dirt roads, or ones with no (or faded) lines? What about snow-covered roads?
I presume it uses GPS navigation? Dunno about other parts of the country, but around here it doesn't always work out so hot...I have a neighbor who owns a body shop and he gets lots of wrecker calls from non-locals whose GPS has taken them down some class V road and they've gotten stuck.

Just seems to me that it'll be a long time before they're perfected enough to be useful.

My wife has a car that parks itself. I haven't tried that feature. I can't even get it to go into a parking space straight when I park it.

Haven't heard much about them recently, but I read a review on one (Lexus maybe?) a few years back. It worked OK as long as there was plenty of room in front of and behind you. Tighter spots not so much. Any drivers' ed student should be able to do better than that. Technology for the sake of technology.

 

[randy41]

there will be autonomous trucks before cars on any massive scale. too bad. be nice to visit family by car and sleep for most of the trip.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I suppose it means that some folks will never know the thrill of driving a 348 three on the tree, popping the clutch, burning rubber, a quick speed shift into second and crossing the 1/4 mile marker ahead of the '40 ford coupe. ....sigh...

 

[kiotiken]

I suppose it means that some folks will never know the thrill of driving a 348 three on the tree, popping the clutch, burning rubber, a quick speed shift into second and crossing the 1/4 mile marker ahead of the '40 ford coupe. ....sigh...

I suppose you're right, but self driving cars have nothing to do with it. I predict 100% of cars will be electric before they're autonomous and there's no tranny at all in those. I have to think a ride in a Tesla P85 D with 620+ hp and 860+ ft/lbs torque might make you feel better about loosing your old 348!

 

[jaotguy]

everyone has forgotten the real muscle in this debate .... the insurance companies ....

who pays when there is an accident between a "self driving car and ... " ... the software company .... car manufacturer ?, ... can't blame the passenger ( he wasn't driving ) ....

 

[rekees4300]

Good points. The lawyers are probably salivating at the mere thought of these things causing a fatality! :judge:

 

[Mace Canute]

While a self driving car might seem to be a foolish idea, when you get right down to it would it be any less safe than a lot of drivers who are texting and doing everything behind the wheel except actually drive?

 

[RollingsFarms]

I can't afford an Audi, much less a self-driving Audi.

 

[kiotiken]

While a self driving car might seem to be a foolish idea, when you get right down to it would it be any less safe than a lot of drivers who are texting and doing everything behind the wheel except actually drive?

Or a repeat drunk driver, somebody who's been behind the wheel for 14 hrs.

 

[300UGUY]

I have a friend that has been working on software for GM's self driving car program. For 10 years. He is frustrated, he wants to see it in production before he retires! He feels he has another 10 years to go, and he doesn't know if he will see it proved out.

 

[300UGUY]

And I'll turn 75 within the month, still have no problem driving, but also have sense enough to know I can't see or drive as well as I could 35 years ago, and I'd love to have a self driving car if it really worked.

You are a unusual Bird! Most old guys that I know would rather die than admit that the can't drive.

 

[dave1949]

While a self driving car might seem to be a foolish idea, when you get right down to it would it be any less safe than a lot of drivers who are texting and doing everything behind the wheel except actually drive?

Exactly. Mixing human drivers with "robot" drivers is going to be a problem. Humans are very unpredictable compared to code. Think of how much the software could be simplified by removing the human element.

I could foresee dedicated roads/zones for self-driving vehicles. Sometimes you would travel on autopilot and sometimes you take the controls depending on where you are.

 

[jaotguy]

Think of how much the software could be simplified by removing the human element.

I could foresee dedicated roads/zones for self-driving vehicles. Sometimes you would travel on autopilot and sometimes you take the controls depending on where you are.

eliminating the human element ? just a bit drastic, then no need for vehicles ....

dedicated zones = twice the infrastructure and 3 times the cost ...

 

[dave1949]

eliminating the human element ? just a bit drastic, then no need for vehicles ....

dedicated zones = twice the infrastructure and 3 times the cost ...

No, the humans are still in the vehicle, they just stop making decisions about driving.

Not more infrastructure, make better use of what is there. We have a lot of wasted road capacity due to it being poorly utilized--mostly by inept or anti-social human drivers.

 

[jrclark]

I cannot help but think that technology for driverless cars has evolved to compensate for women drivers. That's the argument I make to my wife, anyway. She sees it differently.

I wouldn't find much use for one, save for a long, boring highway trip. In fact, most of my commuting time would be spent getting around them. They would be seen as road obstacles in SE Pa.