Self-Driving Vehicles
03-10-17, 10:03 AM
#391
Pole Position
. Heck, why drive, we may even have Uber drones ferrying people around 
03-10-17, 08:00 PM
#392
We need to implement this technology right now. Millennials who are currently driving can't get their noses out of their devices long enough to keep up with traffic, stoplights, etc. They friggin' LIVE inside their devices in their virtual world and don't care what traffic is doing around them.
Texas is "open carry" and the only reason I don't have a gun is because I may shoot someone texting on their device while I try to get through traffic.
Texas is "open carry" and the only reason I don't have a gun is because I may shoot someone texting on their device while I try to get through traffic.
03-11-17, 12:59 AM
#393
03-11-17, 01:07 AM
#394
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/t...they.html?_r=0
http://fortune.com/2017/01/18/apple-texting-driving-2/
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...rivers-phones/
This is one of the best answers for texting and driving right now. I use a smartphone extensively and I don't have a single problem with this. I can remember a time when handheld cellphones as we know them were not a reality and I had to use paper maps and notes to carefully plan out my long trips. I also started driving at a time when simpler handheld cellphones were common and texting was just coming into common use.
With as many external handsfree or head unit control options that are available to still use essential voice calling, voice recognition to text, virtual assistants (Siri, etc) and near handsfree data entry for GPS mapping clients on smart phones, I'd consider this a fair tradeoff for both safety and significantly reducing distracted driving from cellphone use.
If your screen does nothing when you fumble with it in your hand above a certain speed or in whatever situation this technology can "tell" that you are operating a car then you cannot stay glued to it when you should be focused on driving. Autonomous cars will be among us no matter what but interest in driving will be the main determiner of where generations ahead will stand on this. And of course no two people are alike so... there will always be some people who want to go to the extra effort to undergo driving evaluation and become certified to drive certain classes of vehicles or at least private passenger vehicles.
In a couple years or three if handheld devices simply lock you out when operating a vehicle and breathalyzer ignition interlocks that simply disallow inebriated driving at the ignition stage then that's two major contributors to driving hazards on the part of human beings that will be theoretically eliminated... without self-driving car technology. The rest of the onus is on actual driver skill, experience and willingness to pay attention. But years of constant driving experience is what will have to be built up to become better at something no longer absolutely required.
I imagine driving tests might become more stringent but perhaps not egregiously so (think German driver training and certification). Still, if this is an elective and not mandatory form of driver evaluation and certification and perhaps with some more cost... not everyone will jump to be signed up for it. That's okay, I think. I just would hope the option remains available always at your DMV and/or through private driver schools.
I really do think it will be a divided debate however and one with different origins for anyone born into an era where driving a new car themselves in full manual mode or driving a "vintage" car will be elective choice with certain hoops that will have to be jumped through.
Realistically and legislatively I certainly hope it doesn't become economically inaccessible due to high insurance for having a DIY driving license, vintage car, new car that has a steering wheel, etc. Or worse, not an act or privilege that is valued and supported. The interest in driving for fun will always be there but will it be made difficult to be allowed to with proper training, vetting and initial observation is what I wonder about.
It will become an optional thing no doubt but I think enthusiasm for all manual driving ALL the time will begin to be localized into groups that like certain types of vehicles and not the most common ones used for the most routine of trips. Some people will want nothing to do with manual driving. I think there will always be some people who do and will enjoy the experience for its own sake in any situation.
Autonomous technology is really no good if it cannot tolerate human drivers and unpredictable obstacles around it at all times anyway.
Some people think I'm ridiculous when I tell them I don't mind a manual transmission car in heavy city traffic (I don't). I can see that being looked at with utter dumbfounded disbelief a few generations from now. I'll still do it of course (even if that manual gearbox is bolted to an electric motor) and will be considered a crazy older guy who does utterly baffling things that make no sense to most younger people. Except maybe some
http://fortune.com/2017/01/18/apple-texting-driving-2/
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...rivers-phones/
This is one of the best answers for texting and driving right now. I use a smartphone extensively and I don't have a single problem with this. I can remember a time when handheld cellphones as we know them were not a reality and I had to use paper maps and notes to carefully plan out my long trips. I also started driving at a time when simpler handheld cellphones were common and texting was just coming into common use.
With as many external handsfree or head unit control options that are available to still use essential voice calling, voice recognition to text, virtual assistants (Siri, etc) and near handsfree data entry for GPS mapping clients on smart phones, I'd consider this a fair tradeoff for both safety and significantly reducing distracted driving from cellphone use.
If your screen does nothing when you fumble with it in your hand above a certain speed or in whatever situation this technology can "tell" that you are operating a car then you cannot stay glued to it when you should be focused on driving. Autonomous cars will be among us no matter what but interest in driving will be the main determiner of where generations ahead will stand on this. And of course no two people are alike so... there will always be some people who want to go to the extra effort to undergo driving evaluation and become certified to drive certain classes of vehicles or at least private passenger vehicles.
In a couple years or three if handheld devices simply lock you out when operating a vehicle and breathalyzer ignition interlocks that simply disallow inebriated driving at the ignition stage then that's two major contributors to driving hazards on the part of human beings that will be theoretically eliminated... without self-driving car technology. The rest of the onus is on actual driver skill, experience and willingness to pay attention. But years of constant driving experience is what will have to be built up to become better at something no longer absolutely required.
I imagine driving tests might become more stringent but perhaps not egregiously so (think German driver training and certification). Still, if this is an elective and not mandatory form of driver evaluation and certification and perhaps with some more cost... not everyone will jump to be signed up for it. That's okay, I think. I just would hope the option remains available always at your DMV and/or through private driver schools.
I really do think it will be a divided debate however and one with different origins for anyone born into an era where driving a new car themselves in full manual mode or driving a "vintage" car will be elective choice with certain hoops that will have to be jumped through.
Realistically and legislatively I certainly hope it doesn't become economically inaccessible due to high insurance for having a DIY driving license, vintage car, new car that has a steering wheel, etc. Or worse, not an act or privilege that is valued and supported. The interest in driving for fun will always be there but will it be made difficult to be allowed to with proper training, vetting and initial observation is what I wonder about.
It will become an optional thing no doubt but I think enthusiasm for all manual driving ALL the time will begin to be localized into groups that like certain types of vehicles and not the most common ones used for the most routine of trips. Some people will want nothing to do with manual driving. I think there will always be some people who do and will enjoy the experience for its own sake in any situation.
Autonomous technology is really no good if it cannot tolerate human drivers and unpredictable obstacles around it at all times anyway.
Some people think I'm ridiculous when I tell them I don't mind a manual transmission car in heavy city traffic (I don't). I can see that being looked at with utter dumbfounded disbelief a few generations from now. I'll still do it of course (even if that manual gearbox is bolted to an electric motor) and will be considered a crazy older guy who does utterly baffling things that make no sense to most younger people. Except maybe some
Last edited by KahnBB6; 03-11-17 at 07:23 PM. Reason: Grammatical correction
03-11-17, 08:13 AM
#396
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by Och
Half the people in the city are walking around while staring at their phones, completely unaware of their surrounding - they often can't even guess their own next move, so how do you expect computer software to predict it?
03-11-17, 02:21 PM
#397
Pole Position
03-11-17, 03:24 PM
#398
Lexus Fanatic
Good point, Och. Might as well be tossing darts at a board.
03-11-17, 03:36 PM
#399
Lexus Fanatic
Because computer intelligence never improves with time right?
The 5 LS identifies that texting pedestrian and evades them automatically while staying in its lane, which pushes the envelope a little bit closer to a self driving car.
Next?
The 5 LS identifies that texting pedestrian and evades them automatically while staying in its lane, which pushes the envelope a little bit closer to a self driving car.
Next?
03-12-17, 07:52 AM
#401
Lexus Fanatic
Common sense 100 years ago would have told you many, many of our advances were not possible.
03-12-17, 03:19 PM
#402
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Realistically and legislatively I certainly hope it doesn't become economically inaccessible due to high insurance for having a DIY driving license, vintage car, new car that has a steering wheel, etc. Or worse, not an act or privilege that is valued and supported. The interest in driving for fun will always be there but will it be made difficult to be allowed to with proper training, vetting and initial observation is what I wonder about.
03-12-17, 03:22 PM
#403
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
03-12-17, 04:47 PM
#404
Lexus Fanatic
One thing (among many) that concerns me with self-driving vehicles is how they will will cope with icy roads and salt/abasives. ABS can prevent wheel lock-up, but won't necessarily help you stop any quicker. Even if the automatic cruise-control will keep a set distance from the car in front (and that alone will limit how many vehicles can actually use a certain stretch of road any one given time), if a sudden stop needs to be made, and there is no escape route to either side of the car in front of you, the car may not be able to stop in time.
One way around that, of course, would be to have heating elements in the pavement that automatically melt ice without salt and abrasives (salt and abrasives could block the vision of, damage or corrode the sensors/cameras used in self-driving cars). But either designing new roads like that, or retro-fitting existing ones would probably be too expensive and impractical, and most jurisdictions would choose not to do it.
One way around that, of course, would be to have heating elements in the pavement that automatically melt ice without salt and abrasives (salt and abrasives could block the vision of, damage or corrode the sensors/cameras used in self-driving cars). But either designing new roads like that, or retro-fitting existing ones would probably be too expensive and impractical, and most jurisdictions would choose not to do it.
Last edited by mmarshall; 03-12-17 at 06:04 PM.
03-12-17, 05:02 PM
#405
Lexus Champion
One thing (among many) that concerns me with self-driving vehicles is how they will will cope with icy roads and salt/abasives. ABS can prevent wheel lock-up, but won't necessarily help you stop any quicker. Even if the automatic cruise-control will keep a set distance from the car in front (and that alone will limit how many vehicles can actually use a certain stretch of road any one given time), if a sudden stop needs to be made, and there is no escape route to either side of the car in front of you, the car may not be able to stop in time.
One way around that, of course, would be to have heating elements in the pavement that automatically melt ice without salt and abrasives (salt and abrasives could block the vision of, damage or corrode the sensors/cameras used in self-driving cars). But either designing new roads like that, or retro-fitting existing ones wold probably be too expensive and impractical, and most jurisdictions would choose not to do it.
One way around that, of course, would be to have heating elements in the pavement that automatically melt ice without salt and abrasives (salt and abrasives could block the vision of, damage or corrode the sensors/cameras used in self-driving cars). But either designing new roads like that, or retro-fitting existing ones wold probably be too expensive and impractical, and most jurisdictions would choose not to do it.