Self-driving cars...

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Tommy

DanEC,
It will be interesting when four self-driving cars arrive at a 4-way Stop sign intersection at the same time. If they are networked, there will be an algorithm that tells them the correct order. It might be based on traffic patterns downstream from that intersection.

Will they know what to do when they arrive at a controlled light intersection when the controls are out and Police are directing traffic. When all the cars are networked, you won’t need a policeman to direct traffic. In fact, you may not need traffic lights at all.

Will they pull over when a funeral possession is approaching? If the cars are networked and the funeral procession cars are identified, yes it could be done.

Will they know not to drive into a flooded underpass (submarine technology?)? Maybe not the first car. But unlike with human drivers, none that follow will make the same mistake.

Will they try to avoid running over turtles in the road in the spring? It would depend on the resolution of the forward looking radar, the size of the turtle, and the risk to other traffic while dodging the turtle. BTW, the location of the turtle would be shared with following cars.

Will they dodge, tire shredding potholes in Detroit? The radar will see the potholes. Whether they are dodged will depend on traffic conditions.

When it's snowing will they know to speed up before the hill in order to have enough speed to carry itself over the crest before spinning to a stop. Or as soon as it detects moisture and temps of 32 and below will it just pull into the nearest parking lot and shut down to hibernate? I see no reason the algorithm could not account for the highway coefficient of friction. And unlike with human drivers, it would not attempt a maneuver it already knows is impossible to complete.

Will a squirrel crossing the road in front of them send their computer into a psychotic conniption fit? I would expect the erratic movement of the obstruction to identify it as a squirrel and the computer would do as I do: Ignore it and drive on.

Will they pause for panhandlers at intersections approaching the door or drive off? As the occupants will likely be looking at their devices rather than outside, the panhandling trade will die from lack of income.

Can they be programmed to park out in the far areas of the parking lot at Walmart to avoid all the housewife and kids banging up your doors and running shopping carts into your pride and joy? I’m sure it could if that’s what you told it to do.

Inquiring minds would like to know. Imaginative minds like to answer.

Just had a thought - I should have Googled these questions. No need. I got it.

You have more faith in technology than I do.

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by DanEC

You have more faith in technology than I do.

Don't mistake my prediction of the future with a desire to see it done, nor a prediction that it will come about without serious growing pains. My point was that none of the problems you mentioned in jest were beyond solving with today's technology plus a lot of money and political will. ... In my experience, people want better transportation and lower taxes. One way for politicians to have both (and keep their jobs) is to require car makers to find ways to stuff more and more cars on existing roadways. Networked self driving cars seem the obvious solution.

P.S.
Somewhere around 1954, the Weekly Reader for my elementary school class included an article about self driving cars. It anticipated that the government would bury electrical cable in center of each lane of the Interstate system that would send a signal to a system on the car to keep it in its lane. That plus an early cruise control would allow the driver to relax more and be responsible only for braking and occasional passing. Of course the Interstate highways were not nearly as crowded back then.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Tommy

Don't mistake my prediction of the future with a desire to see it done, nor a prediction that it will come about without serious growing pains. My point was that none of the problems you mentioned in jest were beyond solving with today's technology plus a lot of money and political will. ... In my experience, people want better transportation and lower taxes. One way for politicians to have both (and keep their jobs) is to require car makers to find ways to stuff more and more cars on existing roadways. Networked self driving cars seem the obvious solution.

Very plausible thoughts.... But if so, I'd suggest they put more time into public transport first. It would be a much simpler starting point. Light rail is yet to be automoted and they have their own tracks to keep to.

[DanEC]

I'll have to fall back on my original post and that personal injury lawyers will probably kill the whole thing. The first one hit and resulting in an injury will result in a class action lawsuit claiming the manufacturer failed to include measures in the programs that should have avoided the accident. Insurance companies and manufacturers will get the heebie jeebies over all the bad publicity and possibility of billion dollar judgements and can the technology. But in the meantime I guess we will see.

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by Dimis

Very plausible thoughts.... But if so, I'd suggest they put more time into public transport first. It would be a much simpler starting point. Light rail is yet to be automoted and they have their own tracks to keep to.

I'm far from expert on rail, but my understanding is that the most heavily used rail system in the USA, Amtrack, is heavily subsidized by the government because its passengers don't want to pay the actual cost of riding on it. That means someone else has to be taxed to make it a feasible mass transit system for those that use it. Most of our politicians are not keen on taxes, even those that many think are needed. The fact that those who pay the most taxes are among those who least use mass transit is one reason mass transit it a challenge for many communities.