How comfortable are you about "Autonomous Cars"

[Merovius]

Its gonna happen and I welcome it. Summer trips to the cabin up north, load up, set it and forget it. 

Almost time to short NYSE:PGR

[Moogypug]

I think it depends on where you live but where I am right now, I would trust a computer program in its infancy to drive all the cars than allow people with personality disorders drive around and kill people with their cars. It's out of control. I take this extreme position because I have not experienced one day this year where I did not see a car flipped over in the middle of the freeway. The number of near misses because of not checking blind spots, going too fast or too slow, braking dangerously, doing makeup, swerving because they're on the phone, not using their signals, almost hitting pedestrians is staggering. Cannot wait until these systems are in place. 

I'm not saying that we should take away the option of  manually controlling your car but the vast majority of the time (especially during commuting time), the stroke inducing behavior of a large number of motorists is driving me crazy and I for one welcome our autonomous overlords

[PigFish]

You know my friends, considering how wrong cigar smokers are about the many myths that surround something as simple as smoking a cigar, I cringe at the thought of what imaginary tasks some people will 'assume' comes with their self-piloting car!!!

I want to know who decides the on the algorithm? Do you take on the squirrel in the street verses the concrete K-rail? What if the squirrel is a baby? What if the 'baby' is a doll? Am I going into the ditch or against the concrete wall for a baby doll?

No thanks! Humans are not perfect and they cannot be predicted. If they could a foolproof means to trade markets would have been discovered long ago.

Now I don't think that the technology as an aid is worthless. I just have not bothered to sit down and decide what value that it is for me. When I see how some others drive, well, having a robot drive their car may be a very good thing! When one can back my horse trailer into my driveway without hitting anything, well I might see some value for it. Until then, I will just be content to do it myself! I have not hit anything yet!

Me, I would rather have the money spent of another 100hp, or 100ftlbs of torque, or even 10mpg...

-Piggy

[Crash712us]

On one hand I like the idea, will make driving much safer. To many people driving with there heads up arses already. But on the other hand I don't want sacrifice my rights.


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[Fugu]

3 hours ago, Fuzz said:

You'd be surprised how inaccurate GPS is in Australia. The number of times my GPS (both car and mobile phone at the same time) tells me I'm on a parallel street, or even in a totally different location, is staggering.

Yep, it is - almost everywhere. But that's not related to the aforementioned issue. Your geodesists are currently dealing with a systematic deviation. You are alluding to an unsystematic random error. That's mainly due the limited capabilities of the (cheapo) consumer devices, not the GPS-system per se.

In a car-nav you are not using an aided service, such as the mentioned DGPS, which is a (costly) prerequisite to be able to additionally eliminate geometric errors and atmospheric/ionospheric interferences etc., which are causing unsystematic and rather quickly changing errors. We are talking about very different applications here, one is the consumer end, basic GPS/GLONASS systems (for map-navigation, automotive, sports, smartphones...), the other the civil professional-use area with mostly DGPS (construction/engineering, surveying, aviation, science...), and finally there is the original military system using an even higher-precision encrypted gold code.

[El Presidente]

5 hours ago, Fugu said:

It's astonishing to learn Australia hasn't done any updates since 1994!

Not really. We couldn't even get our first online census right this past Tuesday. 

[Dimmers]

I find it all fascinating. And whether we like it or not, its coming fast. It could be that kids born at the moment will be the 1st generation that wont be getting a drivers licence.

[MIKA27]

12 hours ago, Fuzz said:

For self-drive to really work, all major roads need to be isolated from the public (ie no pedestrian crossings or sidewalks). In residential areas or small roads/laneways, self-drive is deactivated and the driver takes over. Until the day all cars are controlled by a central computer system managing all traffic, the driver will still need to sit in the front seat just like a pilot does. None of this reading a newspaper, taking a nap, or goofing off in general (that also means no hanky-panky!).

This would be the ideal set up for it to work (Of course remove Tom Cruise from the equation  )

 

[stogieluver]

Not a big fan of the idea of a computer being in control of my car, but the more I come across idiots who are texting and driving, or texting and sitting through a green light after its changed from red and I've crammed down on my horn and shown them the length of my middle finger long enough for them to get a good read on it, the more I may fall into the camp of it being a good idea.  I fear more for my life from texters than I think I ever will from a computer controlling the trajectory of automobiles.

[Fuzz]

5 hours ago, Fugu said:

Yep, it is - almost everywhere. But that's not related to the aforementioned issue. Your geodesists are currently dealing with a systematic deviation. You are alluding to an unsystematic random error. That's mainly due the limited capabilities of the (cheapo) consumer devices, not the GPS-system per se.

In a car-nav you are not using an aided service, such as the mentioned DGPS, which is a (costly) prerequisite to be able to additionally eliminate geometric errors and atmospheric/ionospheric interferences etc., which are causing unsystematic and rather quickly changing errors. We are talking about very different applications here, one is the consumer end, basic GPS/GLONASS systems (for map-navigation, automotive, sports, smartphones...), the other the civil professional-use area with mostly DGPS (construction/engineering, surveying, aviation, science...), and finally there is the original military system using an even higher-precision encrypted gold code.

Of course, but which system is gonna be used? The el cheapo system or the very expensive, highly accurate system? Wanna take bets on which one a government will choose?

26 minutes ago, MIKA27 said:

This would be the ideal set up for it to work (Of course remove Tom Cruise from the equation  )

 

I'll just be happy to remove Tom Cruise. Period.

[sactochris]

I won't be riding in one.

[MIKA27]

20 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

Of course, but which system is gonna be used? The el cheapo system or the very expensive, highly accurate system? Wanna take bets on which one a government will choose?

I'll just be happy to remove Tom Cruise. Period.

Or more accurately, Wanna take bets on which one THE AUSTRALIAN government will choose?  

If the NBN is anything to go by mate, Turnbull will always go for the Mechano set 

[TheLiquidGator]

My interest in this is making money. Not giving stock advice here. Make your own trades.

 

http://www.mobileye.com/

[LLC]

I enjoy driving and sometimes just go out to drive some fun roads just because

That being said it will come in time especially in big cities where it will be Uber without the driver and the car will just go from pick up to drop off to pick up over an over again.

[Fugu]

10 hours ago, Fuzz said:

Of course, but which system is gonna be used? The el cheapo system or the very expensive, highly accurate system? Wanna take bets on which one a government will choose?

True! But they would have to set up an independent positioning system anyway. E.g. with beacon/transponder-arrays along highways/streets for precise realtime positioning (plus inter-car ranging and other connectivity). Likely in addition to other means such as inductive coils etc. The currently utilized "simpleton" optical tool of detecting lane markings can't be a solution for the future. In the end it will all mean a tremendous effort for a concept that is highly inefficient - and outdated before they start.

And as you are mentioning government - another thought springs to mind - what about harmonization between systems and states? Cars would still have to cross borders. Special case for Australia perhaps, but technology and systems used will likely have to be set up transnationally, so rather won't be a decision of a single government.

And drivers will be so transparent about their whereabouts (and 'how-abouts' and 'what-abouts') like never before. Not looking forward to that.

[Fuzz]

17 minutes ago, Fugu said:

True! But they would have to set up an independent positioning system anyway. E.g. with beacon/transponder-arrays along highways/streets for precise realtime positioning (plus inter-car ranging and other connectivity). Likely in addition to other means such as inductive coils etc. The currently utilized "simpleton" optical tool of detecting lane markings can't be a solution for the future. In the end it will all mean a tremendous effort for a concept that is highly inefficient - and outdated before they start.

And as you are mentioning government - another thought springs to mind - what about harmonization between systems and states? Cars would still have to cross borders. Special case for Australia perhaps, but technology and systems used will likely have to be set up transnationally, so rather won't be a decision of a single government.

And drivers will be so transparent about their whereabouts (and 'how-abouts' and 'what-abouts') like never before. Not looking forward to that.

I have little faith in the Aus Govt in doing anything right (regardless of which side is in power). Nor do I have any faith in them putting in place a realtime positioning system in my lifetime. Example: The Govt wants to build a high speed rail (it's been talked about since the 70's) down the east coast going from Brisbane to Sydney to Melbourne. Predicted completion date.... 2050 (I'll be in my 70's by then)

[Ryan]

It will be brilliant, one of the biggest changes in centuries. It will go far beyond who drives the car, you or computer, but will change car ownership and transportation for everyone.

We've all been getting in planes flown by computer for years and we don't complain.

When fully autonomous cars arrive, why own a car to have it sitting in a driveway or parking spot over 90% of the time, as we all do?

Why spend so much money on the car, tax and maintenance when it is useless to us most of the time, i.e. the times we're not in it?

Parking garages in cities, multi-story ones. Almost always the ugliest, most useless buildings in any city. They wouldn't be needed, free up the space, build parks. Same goes for street parking, free up the space for us. Have the cars go off somewhere to the outskirts when not in use or drive someone else around.

Cars will be like Hailo or Uber cabs, except no driver. Have it come and pick us up when we need it, go somewhere else when we don't. I'm not talking about some communist ideal, it's purely practical. There will still be expensive, average and cheap cars. Simply, you won't have to pay for it when you're not using it, as we all do now.

As Prez says, freedom to get around for old people. My mother is 84, still driving and probably shouldn't be.

Not just old people, blind, otherwise disabled and children. Child A has Rugby, child B has a piano lesson, child C going to the movies, only 2 parents to drive them. All these problems go away. Old people living in rural areas in this country and every country are killing themselves because of loneliness. Let them all get to and from the pub/cafe/restaurant and meet each other with nobody having to drive.

I haven't even mentioned moving freight around.

There is some notion of "giving up the freedom to drive and own a car". Most of us gave up the freedom to own and ride a horse, in that very few of us still can, and we don't complain anymore. Horses aren't even allowed on most road-mileage (i.e. highways) in most countries, yet they were our primary form of transportation for thousands of years.

Last but not least, rates of vehicle related-deaths will go down, as they have with planes.

 

 

[gweilgi]

9 hours ago, Ryan said:

It will be brilliant, one of the biggest changes in centuries. It will go far beyond who drives the car, you or computer, but will change car ownership and transportation for everyone.

We've all been getting in planes flown by computer for years and we don't complain.

As I understand it, technologically we have been able to produce and operate completely computerised aeroplanes for some time now ... but it is not being rolled out because every bit of research done has indicated that passengers totally reject a plane without a pilot on board.

 

9 hours ago, Ryan said:

When fully autonomous cars arrive, why own a car to have it sitting in a driveway or parking spot over 90% of the time, as we all do?

Why spend so much money on the car, tax and maintenance when it is useless to us most of the time, i.e. the times we're not in it?

Parking garages in cities, multi-story ones. Almost always the ugliest, most useless buildings in any city. They wouldn't be needed, free up the space, build parks. Same goes for street parking, free up the space for us. Have the cars go off somewhere to the outskirts when not in use or drive someone else around.

Cars will be like Hailo or Uber cabs, except no driver. Have it come and pick us up when we need it, go somewhere else when we don't. I'm not talking about some communist ideal, it's purely practical. There will still be expensive, average and cheap cars. Simply, you won't have to pay for it when you're not using it, as we all do now.

IMO, people WANT to own cars.  A car is a status symbol for many: an indication of how all they are doing compared to their neighbours or colleagues at work.  

Moreover, a car is an environment which we control -- a rarity these days.  We decide, even if only in small ways, what to listen to on the radio, which lane to go in, which route to take, what temperature to set.  It is a little piece of private space where we set the rules rather than some boss or spouse or government.  Yes, of course this is largely illusory -- but it is a powerful illusion.  

Not to mention that the car as a symbol of freedom and independence is a hugely powerful cultural force.  We have built our cities and infrastructures around private motorised travel.  We build houses around it.  To lose independent car ownership would be a truly epochal cultural shift, and I do not see any willingness for such...

 

[El Presidente]

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."

Thomas Watson, president of IBM, 1943

[LLC]

IMO, people WANT to own cars.  A car is a status symbol for many: an indication of how all they are doing compared to their neighbours or colleagues at work.  

I agree that is the current situation but young people don't think the same way about things like most of us do so for them it won't be a status symbol. To take things a step further, their kids will laugh at the fact that we had to actually do the driving.

[earthson]

I update my cell phone OS and deal with issues until the next version, and I'm supposed to trust a car manufacturer who rushed their product to market to beat the competition?  Automobile manufacturers aren't exactly known for quality, reliable electronics much of the time.

 

PASS!

[Lotusguy]

I'm working for a company that is at the forefront of providing the electronics for these systems. It is absolutely coming, and sooner than people think.

[Dimmers]

54 minutes ago, Lotusguy said:

....It is absolutely coming, and sooner than people think.

Yeah! I certainly hope so, because i want to be commuting to work like this within 5 years ! (not kidding)

 

[gweilgi]

17 hours ago, Dimmers said:

Yeah! I certainly hope so, because i want to be commuting to work like this within 5 years ! (not kidding)

 

Oh, come on!

Self-driving cars are one thing, but a car that talks back at you???

If I want backchat when driving, I get enough of that from my girlfriend!

[Trimming]

I agree for the elderly and individuals with disabilities to have the freedom of transport. As far as myself, I enjoy the ability to do as I please behind the wheel.