tk102 Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Automatic as in "driverless"? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080107/ap_on_hi_te/gadget_show_driverless_cars;_ylt=AnC0d8zTUImMuXY8_eaYzF2s0NUE DETROIT - Cars that drive themselves — even parking at their destination — could be ready for sale within a decade, General Motors Corp. executives say. Kind of a leap of faith to be the first on your block to buy one of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChAiNz.2da Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 can you hack them to make it pull out in front of people... ? hehehe More importantly, if it would make the brain-dead people that find it a "must" to gab on their cell phone while driving, in the meantime getting in my way.. obsolete.... then yeah, I'm soooo there. Better yet, can they invent a 'pimp-slap' device for cars so it delivers an Ike-like greeting to anyone caught dialing their cell phone in a car? Now that kind of technology would interest me more Seriously though, I like driving, it's a simple pleasure so I'm not sure I'd be too keen on the idea unless there's an override. Kinda like the "ultimate cruise control". Wouldn't mind seeing it on delivery vehicles however (big rigs, semi, etc.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bee Hoon Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 The Malaysians would hack the systems so that their cars could tailgate, cut wildly and flash lights at people who follow the speed limit...without the passengers having to do a thing! Meh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogue Nine Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Funny, so would New Yorkers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Automatic as in "driverless"? "Been doing it for over 20 years, b*tch!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamqd Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 ^^ There's more to Prime than meets the eye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimartin Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Kind of a leap of faith to be the first on your block to buy one of these. Not only is it a leap of faith for you, but for everyone else on the roadways. I'll wait until they get all the bugs worked out like in 30 to 40 years. Seriously though, I like driving, it's a simple pleasure so I'm not sure I'd be too keen on the idea unless there's an override. Kinda like the "ultimate cruise control". Wouldn't mind seeing it on delivery vehicles however (big rigs, semi, etc.)Yea, I wouldn’t want to give up the ability to drive. Although I guess the car could be the designated driver. "Been doing it for over 20 years, b*tch!" What kind of mileage does that thing get? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Dando Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Not only is it a leap of faith for you, but for everyone else on the roadways. I'll wait until they get all the bugs worked out like in 30 to 40 years. It's better to be safe than sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inyri Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Never trust a machine to do what you can do yourself. Of course if that was our motto, we're already screwed... In any case, I'll trust machines to do menial tasks that don't risk getting me or anybody else killed. There's really no mechanical match for human instinct and intellect, anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salzella Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 There's really no mechanical match for human instinct and intellect, anyway. Not yet there isn't. At the rate technology is advancing, it could be superior to a human mind by dint of the sheer number of possibilities it can comprehend at any one time, and be able to react and process quicker than we generally can. Plus, that assumption on the human intellect is dependant on the person we're talking about here. I can think of a lot of people I wouldn't trust behind the wheel... Gosh, I went all sci-fi for a moment there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Avery Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 There's really no mechanical match for human instinct and intellect, anyway. I'd trust an intelligent machine over the majority of the human race anyday Least a computer can't get drunk and run over a family crossing the street. Not yet there isn't. At the rate technology is advancing, it could be superior to a human mind by dint of the sheer number of possibilities it can comprehend at any one time, and be able to react and process quicker than we generally can. Plus, that assumption on the human intellect is dependant on the person we're talking about here. I can think of a lot of people I wouldn't trust behind the wheel. Quoted for truth. Not only is it a leap of faith for you, but for everyone else on the roadways. I'll wait until they get all the bugs worked out like in 30 to 40 years. True, but at least you can -fix- bugs in a care that drives itself. You cannot fix bugs in idiots who get into a car drunk, whacked out on drugs, or lacking intelligence. A car that drives itself that breaks or whacks out would be the computers fault, easily fixed or patched, with (I'd guess) limited problems once commercialized. Sadly, you cannot design humans the same way. But yeah, I agree with you. Too many factors involved at the moment for me to really trust it right now. Icy roads, rain, storm, wind, etc could all factor in and make something like that unstable. A computer might be able to calculate a route up a snow covered road, but I'd much rather have control over the wheel in case something happens. The Malaysians would hack the systems so that their cars could tailgate, cut wildly and flash lights at people who follow the speed limit...without the passengers having to do a thing! Odd, I thought that was the majority of people on the road. "Been doing it for over 20 years, b*tch!" Prime wins this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamqd Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Is your car an "automatic"? Well.... My car is automatic, systematic, hydromatic Why it's greased lightnin'! We'll get some overhead lifters, and four barrel quads, oh yeah Keep talkin', whoah keep talkin' Fuel injection cut off, and chrome plated rods, oh yeah I'll get the money, I'll see you get the money With a four-speed on the floor, they'll be waitin' at the door You know that ain't **** when we'll be gettin' lots of *** in greased lightnin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Dando Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 "Replicants are like any other machine, they're either a benefit or a hazard" Just replace "Replicants" with "Cars that can drive themselves" I'm pretty sure I'd be fairly weary of something like this, but as long as I knew I could overide it just in case, and drive it like a normal car, I'd probably feel a lot more comfortable with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk102 Posted January 7, 2008 Author Share Posted January 7, 2008 Never trust a machine to do what you can do yourself. Of course if that was our motto, we're already screwed... In any case, I'll trust machines to do menial tasks that don't risk getting me or anybody else killed. Human beings seem to have fairly high risk factor as it is when it comes to driving. From the source: Thrun said a key benefit of the technology eventually will be safer roads and reducing the roughly 42,000 U.S. traffic deaths that occur annually — 95 percent of which he said are caused by human mistakes. "We might be able to cut those numbers down by a factor of 50 percent," Thrun said. "Just imagine all the funerals that won't take place." There's really no mechanical match for human instinct and intellect, anyway.Moving a machine from one place to another without crashing into other machines sounds like a job for a machine to me. Really, driving doesn't actually take much human instinct or intellect, just the ability to perceive the surroundings. I can understand the fear factor here. But really this has been coming in baby steps for quite awhile. I don't know how many of you use cruise control. I use it all the time. It saves on gas and lets my foot relax. Occasionally, however, my car's controller will detect something is not quite right and cruise control will disengage. I have to take manual control again. It's a nice automation feature for long drives and I'm happy to have it. How about GPS? People who use that seem to love it. Certainly an advantage knowing directions in a strange place. Some packages like XM NavTraffic provides dynamic traffic updates and suggested routes for travel. Toyota for instance has been a leader in developing collision detection systems and I'm sure most of you have seen the commercial where the Lexus car parallel parks itself. Other safety factors like as anti-rollover technology, which uses stability control tied to anti-lock brakes, have demonstrable benefits over driver ability alone. It's really not that much of a leap to establish hands-free driving with these existant technologies. Imagine a long line of cars at a red light. The light turns green and all the cars accelerate at nearly the same time. The tightened feedback loop would greatly improve urban commute times. I work for industry as systems engineer and nearly anytime a process can be automated to remove human error and increase efficiency, it is. What I get concerned about -- just as I do at work -- is that as machines become more efficient, humans become lazier and think less. I'm worried that human effectiveness at driving will decrease as more and more people become used to automatic mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corinthian Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Until I get my HAL 9000, I'm not touching one of those things. Wait a minute. Actually, I'm going to drive myself even after my car starts playing games of chess with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Dando Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 What I get concerned about -- just as I do at work -- is that as machines become more efficient, humans become lazier and think less. I'm worried that human effectiveness at driving will decrease as more and more people become used to automatic mode. It's worrying how we've all become so dependant on machines and technology already, and within such a short space of time too. Nowadays, without them, we're pretty much screwed. As for the matter of cars that drive themselves, will they have a limited edition KITT series? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedHawke Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 I am for cars that drive themselves... (Note: I am a Californian and drive on some of the nuttiest roads in the US of A). Reason: Humans have egos, and a ton of other issues that come out when driving. Diva issues, Rage issues, etc. A computer has no ego... A computer has no bad days... A computer has no emotional problems... A computer has no stress whatsoever... Imagine a world with no road rage. The roads will be clamer and smoother with automated cars... period. Also it will lead to people doing more productive/relaxing things on their way home... like playing their favorite game(s) or calmly browsing the web or reading a book instead of driving. Imagine being in a good mood for a change after your 1+ hour commute. Just my Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kain Darro Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Well, I live in Edmonton, AB. We have the worst drivers in Canada. Insurance records prove it. I think this is a good idea for those who want it, even though I am anti-tech. Yes, I use it. I love gizmos and gadgets, but I hate computers and the like. I think of them like droids, need a good mind wipe every now and then when they start to exibit psychotic tendencies. But I digress. I think many in our generation, and also the previous generation, will not like this so much. The older we get, the more we resist change. Look at the computer and gaming proliferation now. Most folks between 25 and 40 right now have parents who are resistant to new technologies and don't play electronic games often, or they don't understand the infernal machines and how to make them do things. It is a natural progression. We may be a little resistant to this self driving car, but our children will accept it more readily, and their children will completely embrace it. I just hope the opperating system in these cars is not vista, or we will all die horrible, flaming deaths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corinthian Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Redhawke, you forgot about one thing. Viruses. Those can pretty much give a computer all of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negative Sun Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Redhawke, you forgot about one thing. Viruses. Those can pretty much give a computer all of those. Unless your car is hooked up to sone sort of Wifi system with absolutely no encryption on it and no firewall (in which case I wouldn't buy it anyways) there's not really a chance of it catching a virus as I don't see it being hooked up to anything else, because it'll be built for solely one thing: driving you around. Even if it should need like some firmware updates or whatever I doubt you'd just get it off the net and slap it on there, you'd probably have to take it back to the dealership or whatever to get that sorted, but even that scenario seems quite unlikely, if it's built to do what it's supposed to, it won't need any other updates or connection, hence you wouldn't be able to get a virus into it unless you try really really hard to mess up your own car... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth InSidious Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Never trust a machine to do what you can do yourself. Of course if that was our motto, we're already screwed... In any case, I'll trust machines to do menial tasks that don't risk getting me or anybody else killed. There's really no mechanical match for human instinct and intellect, anyway. "We are all, by any practical definition of the term, foolproof and incapable of error..." Reason: Humans have egos, and a ton of other issues that come out when driving. Diva issues, Rage issues, etc. A computer has no ego... A computer has no bad days... A computer has no emotional problems... A computer has no stress whatsoever... Imagine a world with no road rage. http://www.cineaste.com/hal9000.jpg O RLY? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Roboto Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 What I get concerned about -- just as I do at work -- is that as machines become more efficient, humans become lazier and think less. "It's got electrolytes." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedHawke Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Redhawke, you forgot about one thing. Viruses. Those can pretty much give a computer all of those. The self-driving auto would be a closed system so not really. Unless your car is hooked up to sone sort of Wifi system with absolutely no encryption on it and no firewall (in which case I wouldn't buy it anyways) there's not really a chance of it catching a virus as I don't see it being hooked up to anything else, because it'll be built for solely one thing: driving you around. Even if it should need like some firmware updates or whatever I doubt you'd just get it off the net and slap it on there, you'd probably have to take it back to the dealership or whatever to get that sorted, but even that scenario seems quite unlikely, if it's built to do what it's supposed to, it won't need any other updates or connection, hence you wouldn't be able to get a virus into it unless you try really really hard to mess up your own car... Exactly. @ DI, HAL is a quite fictional computer/character... in a very fictional book. Real computers on the other hand are quite different. Besides K.A.R.R. pwns HAL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bimmerman Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Not to point out how far behind the times GM is, but BMW's already got a car that can not only drive itself, but can learn its way around a race track. Click the link to see a BMW go around Top Gear's track, all on its own. Clicky It is not a production car, and had to be shown the track since Top Gear's test track is not in any Sat Nav directory, but it still races itself around a track. Of course, Lexus has a car that can parallel park itself, and has been on the market for a couple years, the LS 460L. GM and the major American car companies are really not technical leaders in the industry. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth InSidious Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 @ DI, HAL is a quite fictional computer/character... in a very fictional book. Real computers on the other hand are quite different. Well, true. Real computers are highly sophisticated idiots. Besides K.A.R.R. pwns HAL! ...Dammit, why did HAL never just say "no". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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