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Kind of a mod
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Driverless cars could change everything
Thought this article was cool to think about.
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-28376929 Driverless cars could change everything For now, it seems like a novelty - cars that can operate independently of human control, safely cruising down streets thanks to an array of sensors and pinpoint GPS navigation. But if the technology avoids getting crushed by government regulators and product liability lawsuits, writes the Federalist's Dan McLaughlin, it could prompt a cultural shift similar to the early 20th century move away from horses as the primary means of transportation. First and foremost, he writes, the spread of driverless cars will likely greatly reduce the number of traffic accidents - which currently cost Americans $871b (£510b) a year. "A truly driverless road would not be accident-free, given the number of accidents that would still be caused by mechanical and computer errors, weather conditions, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and sheer random chance," he says. "But it would make the now-routine loss of life and limb on the roads far rarer." Computer-operated cars would eventually reshape car design, he says, as things like windshields - "a large and vulnerable piece of glass" - become less necessary. Drivers will be able to sit wherever they'd like in their cars, which could make car interiors more like mobile lounges than like cockpits. The age required to operate a driverless car is likely to drop, he says. There could be an impact on the legal drinking age, as well, as preventing drunk driving was one of the prime justifications for the US-wide setting minimum age to purchase alcohol at 21 years old. There's other possible economic fallout, McLaughlin contends, such as a restructuring of the auto insurance industry, the obsolescence of taxi drivers and lower ratings for drive-time radio programmes. The high-tech security state will also get boost, he writes, as GPS-tagged cars will be easier to track, making life difficult for fugitives and car thieves. Police will also be able to move resources away from operations like traffic enforcement. Of course, he writes, the towns that rely on speed traps to fund their government services will be facing budget shortfalls. Privacy advocates could also get an unexpected boost, he notes, since traffic stops are one of the main justifications for police vehicle searches. Finally, there's the prospect of the as-yet-unrealised futurist dream of flying cars. With computer-controlled vehicles that strictly follow traffic rules, McLaughlin says, "the potential for three-dimensional roads becomes a lot less scary and more a matter of simply solving the technological challenge". Where we're going, we may not need roads after all. |
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#136 |
For The Glory Of The City
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Not having to drive would be a dream. Literally life changing.
I have come to dislike it in the past 5 or so years. So many chances for bad and annoying things to happen that can cause people to get hurt or a ton of money come out of my pocket. I would not need to drive a whole lot of my work commute was not 30-45 mins one day I can get away with most stuff being walkable or public transit adjacent during stretches off of days. |
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#137 |
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Driverless car honked at my son while he was crossing the street in SF in a crosswalk.
3 driverless cars were stalled and blocking 2 of 4 lanes in the middle of SF a few weeks ago causing tons of havoc
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#138 | |
Sometimes it's black and white
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Quote:
Yes, the network being hacked is one of those unlikely, but high risk scenarios that need to be taken seriously. Having millions of cars being ordered to crash simultaneously is the Hollywood movie scenario. But even just a situation where a hack shuts down tens of millions of cars that commuters count on every day would be serious. The idea that any network that is online is 100 percent secure is laughable.
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#139 | ||
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Quote:
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Then there is the other extreme like China, if I remember correctly, where you basically live at the factory, almost like a prison. I guess it is the choice you make on where you want to live. |
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#140 | |
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Quote:
Have you? |
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#141 |
NFL's #1 Ermines Fan
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I haven't seen a driverless car on the road yet, or a person relaxing with an autopilot. Maybe I've been near them and haven't noticed.
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#142 |
Indian Twitter
Join Date: Nov 2000
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I prefer to drive myself. I enjoy making good time and beating the clock on long trips and I think there are times I can do things in my car that a computer wouldn't let me do. A self-driving feature that gives me a choice would make sense for me maybe but in the end I probably wouldn't use it much. Maybe when I'm 75 years old. Driving equals freedom and somehow I think a self driving car would take away from that.
I think it's weird that some people(men) don't like to drive. Driving is such a man thing to do.
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#143 | |
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#144 | |
Sometimes it's black and white
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: California
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Quote:
Spend enough time on California highways where 70 mph traffic is 4 or more lanes wide, only a couple of car lengths apart, and then moments later, you're stuck in grid lock. Yes, I'd rather just be on my phone/tablet than behind the wheel.
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#145 | |
Indian Twitter
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Quote:
Now **** off you big fat poosy!
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#146 |
For The Glory Of The City
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#147 |
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#148 |
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Instead of driverless cars what we need to invest in is hover cars. That would solve basically every problem. No more wear and tear on infrastructure and accidents would no longer be a big problem. A couple of hover cars hitting each other would just cause a reaction where each bounces or spins in some direction with no real damage besides maybe some dents.
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#149 | |
Banded
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Quote:
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Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know. |
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#150 |
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I have a Y Tesla and Full Self Driving (FSD) beta. Like lots of cars today, I can get on the interstate and the car will drive itself as long as I stay on the interstate. This is not FSD beta. All Teslas are capable of doing this. It does make long drives a lot more comfortable. It will slow down and pass with whatever speed you want to set and if a Navigation point is set it will drive from entry on Interstates to off ramp from Interstates.
FSD beta tries to put this freedom on regular driving in town and country roads. I do use it on routes I know because I am aware of where it will have troubles. But in city driving it is nice because it stops at stop signs and proceeds with right of way, at stop lights and goes on green and slows or stops for cars in front of me turning or stopping at intersections. Stop and go driving is less stressful. It does not do as well on country roads or highways with slightly skewed intersection meeting. It will not recognize entry roads to destinations as not part of highways. It has problems with stopped emergency vehicles and associated human directions at such scenes. But I have seen lots of improvement over the year. I am concerned that my particular car may not have the resolution and cpu power to actually get to a practical level of self driving. It is not GPS dependent at all and the visual and processing power has to be on board for Tesla's implementation. Last edited by Teak; 08-23-2023 at 02:19 PM.. Reason: readability |
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