RE: Google's car is go...
Discussion
Google don't see this as a novelty choice for the few, they'll be pushing every political leader to revoke licences and enforce road networks of satellite tracked, largely leased electric auto-automobiles, vans and trucks. In the near future you'll be ferried around where required (perhaps working in the Google uranium mines if you're deemed fit to live), carried back to your home which will be controlled by Google for 'the good of the peoples' (see NEST acquisition and one likely to be announced next week), put on Google TV, watch Google based ads, use Facebook VR headsets which will scan your brain as you play Angry Birds for terrorist intentions or anti-Google thoughts, you'll retire to bed, glancing up through your Google Glass head-wear at your neighbour's window to see he is reading an outlawed book, next thing you know you're woken by your Google alarm clock to see a new Google approved breeding couple (see 23andMe) moving in and you'll never see your old neighbours again. Just saying... 
Harry H said:
Wouldn't it be great though if the tech could be retrofitted to a normal car. Especially for motorways. Enter slip road, programme your exit junction and then have a kip. Car then just wakes you up to take over when you're near the exit. There so much less to worry about for the tech on a motorway. In fact there's no reason why these cars couldn't belt along at 100mph 50 ft apart
If you read the article, it states this car was designed to replace the previous adaptions of a 'normal' car that had been modified to work autonomously The concerns about the way these will handle everyday traffic have largely been countered by the hundreds of thousands of miles already covered, without any incident apparently. They are legal in California so that is where they have been tested, I've never been so don't know what the road conditions are like but apparently they cope well with it - at least the modified Prius' have so there is no reason this dedicated car won't.
I can see the driverless car becoming a reality very soon, and it doesn't worry me too much - as others have said, a car which takes care of everything for the times you don't want to or can't derive any great pleasure (heavy traffic in cities) and then the chance to use a PH car when appropriate would suit me and I suspect it will be a long time before anything driven by a person would be banned.
The next generation of drivers aren't interested in cars the same way previous generations were, the numbers taking driving tests is dropping, not just in the UK but in many other developed nations so maybe the decline of the drivers car is inevitable even without these. Combine that lack of interest with the sharing society where people are less interested in owning objects they can rent and use on demand and this is a shrewd move by Google - at the end of the day they need information about how we live our lives and this will give them even more.
I can see the driverless car becoming a reality very soon, and it doesn't worry me too much - as others have said, a car which takes care of everything for the times you don't want to or can't derive any great pleasure (heavy traffic in cities) and then the chance to use a PH car when appropriate would suit me and I suspect it will be a long time before anything driven by a person would be banned.
The next generation of drivers aren't interested in cars the same way previous generations were, the numbers taking driving tests is dropping, not just in the UK but in many other developed nations so maybe the decline of the drivers car is inevitable even without these. Combine that lack of interest with the sharing society where people are less interested in owning objects they can rent and use on demand and this is a shrewd move by Google - at the end of the day they need information about how we live our lives and this will give them even more.
Who was the stylist? Surely he/she had studied Koala Bears to get a nose like that?
I am glad that age prevents me ever seeing such abominations in use: but what will happen to all the people who sell petrol, pin fines on your car, service the "old school" cars, direct traffic, man school crossings, etc. No responsibility on the occupants as they won't be the driver so all fines for mishaps, accidents, electrical failure crashes,traffic jams, parking fines etc. get paid by Google as they'll automatically go direct to them. Do we know what happens when one breaks down on a narrow road causing a tailback. 25mph? What happens when an HGV driver gets fed up and 'punts' it - love to see that one! One thing is exciting beyond all else....watch the kids with mobile 'phones cracking the codes and sending these monsters for trips they never intended. Obviously this is another Google 'stunt' to show us they wish to control everything....could I suggest a worthy alternative for them to pursue? Take the fleet to Brussels, invite all 'gravy train' MEPs who have fiddled expenses to go for a ride in convoy towards the nearest harbour or pier without any recogniseable end barrier. Snag? Would not get them all in the 100 cars..............
I am glad that age prevents me ever seeing such abominations in use: but what will happen to all the people who sell petrol, pin fines on your car, service the "old school" cars, direct traffic, man school crossings, etc. No responsibility on the occupants as they won't be the driver so all fines for mishaps, accidents, electrical failure crashes,traffic jams, parking fines etc. get paid by Google as they'll automatically go direct to them. Do we know what happens when one breaks down on a narrow road causing a tailback. 25mph? What happens when an HGV driver gets fed up and 'punts' it - love to see that one! One thing is exciting beyond all else....watch the kids with mobile 'phones cracking the codes and sending these monsters for trips they never intended. Obviously this is another Google 'stunt' to show us they wish to control everything....could I suggest a worthy alternative for them to pursue? Take the fleet to Brussels, invite all 'gravy train' MEPs who have fiddled expenses to go for a ride in convoy towards the nearest harbour or pier without any recogniseable end barrier. Snag? Would not get them all in the 100 cars..............
This is a good idea in congested cities.
However.
If these automated cars are taken out of the city they will have to do more than 25mph at some point. This means if they crash, people will get hurt, possibly killed. Personally, I want to be in control of my own fate. Dying because Google malfunctioned is a bit annoying.
But then this is the main point. People die on the roads currently because a lot of people are bad at driving, because they have no interest in it. These autonomous cars provide a solution in the sense that these drivers can now not be in charge, "read the paper" so to speak and complain about everything else.
Also, anyone else feel that they don't want Google controlling every aspect of their lives?
However.
If these automated cars are taken out of the city they will have to do more than 25mph at some point. This means if they crash, people will get hurt, possibly killed. Personally, I want to be in control of my own fate. Dying because Google malfunctioned is a bit annoying.
But then this is the main point. People die on the roads currently because a lot of people are bad at driving, because they have no interest in it. These autonomous cars provide a solution in the sense that these drivers can now not be in charge, "read the paper" so to speak and complain about everything else.
Also, anyone else feel that they don't want Google controlling every aspect of their lives?
gaz9185 said:
Do we know what happens when one breaks down on a narrow road causing a tailback.
Exactly the same as what happens if any other car breaks down on a narrow road causing a tailback. Someone has to come out and recover it.gaz9185 said:
I am glad that age prevents me ever seeing such abominations in use
These will be in commercial service in some parts of the world within five years and I doubt you will pop off your clogs quickly enough to avoid seeing them in UK towns and cities in the 2020-2025 timescaleEdited by Lowtimer on Wednesday 28th May 15:58
Plenty of Ludd's Disciples here, reactions straight out of an Asimov story. Or Shelley. Pitchforks and torches at the ready to ward off the mechanical demon.
It's not intended as a driver's car, or as a threat to driving. There is a big chunk of the driving population who would like nothing more than to hand control over to Johnny Cab, and get on with other stuff while they're taken to their destination. This service will suit them perfectly.
The car is still in development, hence the concept car looks, exposed cage and elevated bank of radar/photon torpedoes.
As it gets closer to production, I think we'll see a much more rationalised, familiar design. It does illustrate nicely what happens when you let a tech designer loose on a car project.
I'm guessing the koala nose is another battery of sensors?
It's not intended as a driver's car, or as a threat to driving. There is a big chunk of the driving population who would like nothing more than to hand control over to Johnny Cab, and get on with other stuff while they're taken to their destination. This service will suit them perfectly.
The car is still in development, hence the concept car looks, exposed cage and elevated bank of radar/photon torpedoes.
As it gets closer to production, I think we'll see a much more rationalised, familiar design. It does illustrate nicely what happens when you let a tech designer loose on a car project.
I'm guessing the koala nose is another battery of sensors?
This will be the biggest thing to effect the modern world. Once they have the cars sorted, it'll move to all modes of transport. So eventually we will have auto cars, taxi's, buses, trucks and trains. So all those jobs will no longer be there to be done.
You could drive into the city to go out on the raz and then get your car to take you home. It'll finally lead to a rise in unemployment and alcoholism.
Funny how the face of doom is so cutesy.
You could drive into the city to go out on the raz and then get your car to take you home. It'll finally lead to a rise in unemployment and alcoholism.
Funny how the face of doom is so cutesy.
Could these be adapted as 'couriers'?
similar to the Amazon drones that were discussed.
You send a text or email stating you have a parcel you need sending,
it wizzes around the city carrying important documentation, it can receive live traffic feeds to find out which routes are blocked/free to decide the best route to take. when it arrives at its destination a text is sent that informs the recepiant that their parcel is here, they input the code on the text to access the slot the parcel is in.
Is this an idea worth considering?
similar to the Amazon drones that were discussed.
You send a text or email stating you have a parcel you need sending,
it wizzes around the city carrying important documentation, it can receive live traffic feeds to find out which routes are blocked/free to decide the best route to take. when it arrives at its destination a text is sent that informs the recepiant that their parcel is here, they input the code on the text to access the slot the parcel is in.
Is this an idea worth considering?
cianha said:
Plenty of Ludd's Disciples here, reactions straight out of an Asimov story. Or Shelley. Pitchforks and torches at the ready to ward off the mechanical demon.
It's not intended as a driver's car, or as a threat to driving. There is a big chunk of the driving population who would like nothing more than to hand control over to Johnny Cab, and get on with other stuff while they're taken to their destination. This service will suit them perfectly.
The car is still in development, hence the concept car looks, exposed cage and elevated bank of radar/photon torpedoes.
As it gets closer to production, I think we'll see a much more rationalised, familiar design. It does illustrate nicely what happens when you let a tech designer loose on a car project.
I'm guessing the koala nose is another battery of sensors?
What he said.It's not intended as a driver's car, or as a threat to driving. There is a big chunk of the driving population who would like nothing more than to hand control over to Johnny Cab, and get on with other stuff while they're taken to their destination. This service will suit them perfectly.
The car is still in development, hence the concept car looks, exposed cage and elevated bank of radar/photon torpedoes.
As it gets closer to production, I think we'll see a much more rationalised, familiar design. It does illustrate nicely what happens when you let a tech designer loose on a car project.
I'm guessing the koala nose is another battery of sensors?
Dave Hedgehog said:
Was just going to post that lolEd. said:
Max_Torque said:
MonkeyMatt said:
In theory this would only work properly if all the cars on the road where driverless. The vast majority of the general public can't or won't drive properly and would just end up driving into or cutting these up!
This is an interesting point, since the autonomous program must ALWAYS act in the safest fashion, you should be able to cut these things up with impunity! ;-)Here's a video showing the systems understanding of the world (clue: it has better situational awareness than humans do already, because it sees a 360 degree field of view all the time).
This is 3 years old but gives an idea of where they were back then: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXeUu_Y6WOw
Love the roll cage, and that they appear to be metal go karts wrapped in sheets of plastic, and not at all water tight! Obviously they are intended to be incredibly crude, their sole purpose being to test the technology, carry two people and nothing more. At some point they are surely going to need some help from an OEM to develop a proper car.
The BBC just dragged Quentin Wilson out for an opinion on the news and spouted some guff like "of course they will have to use special lanes separate from other traffic". I think it just highlights that how far out of touch most people are with the state of the art in this field - Googlified cars have been driving around on the public road and mixing happily with normal traffic in several states for some time with an excellent safety record.
This technology is coming much quicker than most people think.
This technology is coming much quicker than most people think.
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