Self-driving cars are going to be available soon. They say they will be safer and reduce car accidents because most of the time car collisions are caused by human error. It will also give disabled and blind people who can't drive more transportation independence. Sounds great, but I'm still a skeptic. If a blind or disabled person can use one of these self driving cars, are children going to be using them too? Will naughty children take off in their parent's self-driving cars? With the computerized technology to plan routes, turn corners, accelerate, and brake when needed, couldn't someone hack the self-driving vehicle and drive it off a cliff? I still don't see myself ever owning one.
self driving car that hits every pot hole,, I guess they are going to install some air-ride seats. the road is one thing, road hazards are another. what about a cable/down power line across the road, maybe they could sensor large objects but cables ??
how would the software predict the behavior of other human drivers, who don't always drive the same, all the time? it would be a lot easier if all cars were self driving cars that behave in a consistent predictable way. at that point you wouldn't necessarily have to rely on things like turn signals and such, some other form of signaling between vehicles could be implemented that would be much more robust. mingled with human drivers tho? a lot of people drive like idiots, and the rest of them drive crazy enough that in order to survive that and get to you destination you have to be a human that's capable of driving aggressively enough not to get run over or ran off the road, but not have a wreck either. sometimes you really do have to force your way into a lane, or at least aggressively enough that the car in the other lane knows that you're really gonna do it for sure, otherwise they'll probably not let you over. (a self driving car would ideally need some acknowledgement of a negotiation between the cars, i.e something to take as a signal the other car was ready to let you change lanes). in real life, you might be waiting forever for someone to let you change lanes like that. not sure how this would work, if you had software that evaluated the safety of a maneuver before doing it, i can see where the humans might never allow that to happen in rush hour traffic. how safe would it have to be evaluated to before attempting it? 99%, 100% ...
There would have to be an off switch... 99% of the time this feature would be shut OFF for 90% of the people driving such a thing. More wasted money on useless gadgets.
"Honey, I got in a wreck today stupid self driving car!" "What happened? " "I don't know i was asleep on my way to work and I ran into a tree" "Lets see.. oh there's your problem. Computer chip fried. You're lucky to be alive" That boys and girls is why you don't depend on technology with your life. Yes your life depends not only how you drive, but others as well
i would assume that a self-driving car would be programmed for 100% correct driving technique, and would never break any traffic laws. in that case, how would a cop justify pulling you over?
unregistered, inspection run out, broken taillight ..... ? wake me when they mass produce the Blade Runner spinner cars..
It will be interesting to see what happens, whether we ever get to a day where all vehicles are computer driven I can't really see a legal framework where you'd have both human and computer driven cars on the road at the same time.
Terrible idea. Cool concept. I am the wrong person to comment on this subject, as I enjoy driving too much and being involved in the actual process. Why would I purchase a car that does it for me? What's next? A robot that will make love to my girlfriend for me? Some macine that will go to work for me so i can stay home and play video games all day? Wait.....
I wouldn't be so sure about that http://www.google.com/about/careers/lifeatgoogle/self-driving-car-test-steve-mahan.html
