Communicating with self-driving car

[Chris944]

I can flash my lights and sound my horn to attract the attention of another driver in the roads today. Will that work with automated, self-driving cars?

If I'm in lane 2 on a dual carriageway with a self-driving car ahead and want to overtake it, and think there is space in lane 1 for it to move into, will a flash of my lights prompt it to move over? What do I do if it doesn't move over?

Which gets me thinking...

- Will it be safe to undertake a self-driving car?
- How would a self-driving car respond to tail-gating (which is a form of communication)
- Should self-driving cars carry visible "self-driving car" signs to alert other drivers?

I'm interested to understand what other pistonheaded people think.

Chris.

[Daston]

Interesting point,

Further more will humans be able to "bully" self driven cars. If a self drive car is sat at 70 in the outside lane of the motorway and has come across repmobileman who sits 1ft off its bumper will the AI pull over to avoid road rage?

[AH33]

Daston said:

Interesting point,

Further more will humans be able to "bully" self driven cars. If a self drive car is sat at 70 in the outside lane of the motorway and has come across repmobileman who sits 1ft off its bumper will the AI pull over to avoid road rage?

Oh I certainly hope so

[normalbloke]

Yes, especially from the front with regards to radar cruise....brings a whole new meaning to the term ' brake testing'

[Josho]

The Range Rover has flashing lights on the mirrors to detect vehicles coming at speed behind you that quite often you haven't seen yet.

I can't imagine undertaking would be an issue.

[Dave Hedgehog]

play chicken with them, the computer will always (if it works properly) driver defensively and give way to you

it will be so easy to cut in on a self driving car

[GC8]

Will Asimov's laws prevent the robot-driven car from brake testing you?

[e21Mark]

I still don't see why we want or need self driving cars? I know the likes of Google tell us we need them but they've got a vested interest. Isn't this all just a gimmick?

[IanCress]

I think it's great to have the option of a self driving car, for the times when you're stuck in a traffic jam and could use your time more productively / have a w*nk, but I don't want to be forced in to a self driving car with no option of taking control.

[AJXX1]

Why would the AI be in the wrong lane in the first place? Not very intelligent if it's sat clogging up L2/L3 is it?

Then again, I'm sure the TDI brigade will be there anyway, so the AI probably won't have a chance to lane hog.

[Dave Hedgehog]

e21Mark said:

I still don't see why we want or need self driving cars? I know the likes of Google tell us we need them but they've got a vested interest. Isn't this all just a gimmick?

it will be fantastic for the commute to work, get some extra sleep, catch up on some work or the latest box set, or if you have ticked the switch-able obscured glass you can knock one out

hmm a business opportunity for uber here, have a pick up the nearest tart option

[otolith]

e21Mark said:

I still don't see why we want or need self driving cars? I know the likes of Google tell us we need them but they've got a vested interest. Isn't this all just a gimmick?

Because a lot of people don't enjoy driving and consider it a chore when they would rather be doing something else.

Because a lot of people aren't very good at driving, and partly as a result of that well over a million people a year die in road traffic accidents.

Because it would be useful to many people to have independent mobility without the need for someone physically capable of driving - drunk, underage, elderly, blind or partially sighted, disabled.

Why do you think the rich have chauffeurs?

[omgus]

GC8 said:

Will Asimov's laws prevent the robot-driven car from brake testing you?

Probably not, brake testing you would not hurt you directly.
There have been some very interesting interpretations of the 3 laws when run through simulations.
Asimov's idea that humanity would lose control for it's own good is more likely than you'd think, basically I, Robot but with less Will Smith.

[otolith]

They already understand communications from cyclists.

https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/05/google-autonom...

[CrutyRammers]

Daston said:

Interesting point,

Further more will humans be able to "bully" self driven cars. If a self drive car is sat at 70 in the outside lane of the motorway and has come across repmobileman who sits 1ft off its bumper will the AI pull over to avoid road rage?

Why would it be sat at 70 in the outside lane?

[AH33]

otolith said:

Because a lot of people don't enjoy driving and consider it a chore when they would rather be doing something else.

Because a lot of people aren't very good at driving, and partly as a result of that well over a million people a year die in road traffic accidents.

Because it would be useful to many people to have independent mobility without the need for someone physically capable of driving - drunk, underage, elderly, blind or partially sighted, disabled.

Why do you think the rich have chauffeurs?

Public transport and taxis exist for all of these people, probably for a lot less cost and definitely with a lot less "nudge me out of my proper car and into a google box" in future.

[otolith]

AH33 said:

Public transport and taxis exist for all of these people, probably for a lot less cost and definitely with a lot less "nudge me out of my proper car and into a google box" in future.

People prefer private transport. It's more convenient, it goes where you are going when you are going, you don't have to share it with the filthy masses, and outside of the major conurbations, it actually exists in a reliable and usable form.

[stewy68]

AH33 said:

Public transport and taxis exist for all of these people, probably for a lot less cost and definitely with a lot less "nudge me out of my proper car and into a google box" in future.

As said before in another thread, you might want to exercise your right to public transport.

[AH33]

otolith said:

People prefer private transport. It's more convenient, it goes where you are going when you are going, you don't have to share it with the filthy masses, and outside of the major conurbations, it actually exists in a reliable and usable form.

Isn't that just a taxi?

You'd need to share your google pod with others in the same way.

[AH33]

stewy68 said:

As said before in another thread, you might want to exercise your right to public transport.

Me? I'd never use it. I enjoy driving though.