Driverless Vehicles, Coming To A Road Near You Too Soon!

[mattr]

Re: Re:

How about we start with Sinclair C5s? How about they are autonomously directed through London traffic, to demonstrate the infallibility of the tech?

That's already kicked off in a very basic form, it's called traffic jam assist, and is already available from several manufacturers.

 

[legrandefromage]

Theres some 30 million 'normal' cars on the road and still millions with no more than a brake pedal to prevent collisions. Unless theres an extraordinarily generous / costly scrappage scheme autonomous driving is still a few decades away.

 

[technodup]

The reason they are testing in actual traffic is because no matter how clever some people think scenario modelling is, the only way they can really learn is by making MISTAKES.

FFS, do you want a notification of every journey attempted by every person in your area every day? Because one thing is for sure, those people will be making more mistakes than the computers.

If we had perfect lane discipline, speed control, no RTAs etc I could understand the questioning it. But we don't. We kill nearly 2000 a year by bad driving. Plus many more injuries, and huge cost of repairs, time, emergency services etc.

Theres some 30 million 'normal' cars on the road and still millions with no more than a brake pedal to prevent collisions. Unless theres an extraordinarily generous / costly scrappage scheme autonomous driving is still a few decades away.

It'll not be standard anytime soon, but I'd expect to see the first in the next decade or so. Ultimately money talks, and every major car manufacturer, plus Google, possibly Apple, the UK and US governments and who knows who else aren't pumping billions at this on a 50 year punt.

It's coming. And sooner than we think.

 

[legrandefromage]

Not if you cant afford its not.

Will driverless vehicles take themselves off to Kwikfit for tyres and a service?

 

[chrisv40]

Re:

Good point about the cost Mark but even if I could afford it I love driving far too much to ever consider owning one.

 

[legrandefromage]

Re: Re:

How about we start with Sinclair C5s? How about they are autonomously directed through London traffic, to demonstrate the infallibility of the tech?

That's already kicked off in a very basic form, it's called traffic jam assist, and is already available from several manufacturers.

Maybe we should let highlandsflyer try it out...

 

[technodup]

Will driverless vehicles take themselves off to Kwikfit for tyres and a service?

I'd imagine they'll do something very similar.

You mention cost, who says it'll be more expensive? The trouble with sticking your head in the sand is you can't see that this could fundamentally change the way we move around. I'd guess the idea would be for a cross between a car club and taxi service where you only use (and pay for) it when you need it. Paid monthly or paid per use via an app. Scheduled via the app. No ownership, no responsibilities or ongoing costs. No restrictions for the blind, disabled or elderly.

Take me to work at 9am. Don't waste 8 hours (I'm paying for) sitting in the car park wasting space (I'm indirectly paying for). Go and take someone else where they're going. And 10 others that day. Come back for me when I want it.

I realise on a retro forum the old ways are 'best' but I can see a time where we wonder why we ever let humans drive in the first place. 2000 avoidable deaths every year in the UK alone? Over a million worldwide. But that doesn't matter as long as some dinosaurs get to go vroom vroom in their wee metal box? I think the aim should be to ban cars from the roads and allow them on closed tracks only.

I think this will probably be the biggest change since the internet. And look how quickly that changed life once it got going.

 

[chrisv40]

Re:

Why would anyone want taking to work when they can drive themselves. I'm guessing you either don't have a driving licence or just hate driving.

 

[legrandefromage]

I'm not sticking my head in the sand, not at all but with the demographic of car ownership ranging from billionaires to my neighbours' £150 Meriva, its not going to be happening any time soon.

I have no issues with pretty much anything as long as its reasonably affordable for everyone.

I was the first in my street with a 42" TV, at £1600 it was 'cheap' with other models £5300 at the time. Now a 50" screen with better resolution is around £250 - if the same applies to driverless car tech, fine.

But, hows about nobody does anything at all, that saves even more unnecessary deaths. Walking out of ones' own front door, skiing, off road cycling, walking in the hills, rock climbing, hang gliding, flying etc etc. everything can be seen as unnecessary if taken to the extreme.

Just look at what happened to this poor chap!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2s2vkb

 

[legrandefromage]

The whole car industry is what is fucked up: The way you are perceived if you dont have the latest model. The lies told about recycling older cars that are still perfectly usable and just as safe as anything on the roads. How you are treated if you dont drive or are happy to rattle around in an old motor.

The need to commute hundreds of miles each day by workers or the opposite, those that drive less than a mile each way for journeys that can be done on foot or bicycle.

Too much is relied upon to be provided by the car industry while it quietly kills us all off pre-maturely either by physical contact or emissions. Too much leeway is given to them for buildings, taxes in the name of employment.

The whole economy is propped up by the car either by repairing its damage, supplying parts, repairs, planning, road building, etc etc

Ideally, driverless cars shouldnt be needed full stop. But, we've been sucked in by it for years so, thats why it will be decades yet until anything really changes.