Category: Let's talk
Self-driving car proves law-abiding, too. A self-driving car's recent 3,400-mile U.S. road trip proves there is at least one thing computers do better than humans: follow the speed limit. Auto supplier Delphi Corp. fitted an Audi Q5 with radar, cameras and laser sensors to navigate the 15-state journey from San Francisco to New York , mostly traveling on highways. The car drove itself 99 percent of the time, Delphi said yesterday. Along the way, the autonomous Audi never drove above the speed limit, even when everyone else did. As a result, other drivers subjected the car - and its human oc'cup'ants - to "a few hateful gestures," said Jeff Owens, Delphi's chief technology officer. The person sitting in the driver seat intervened once when traffic was weaving around in a construction zone, and again when the car didn't want to move into a busy left lane to avoid police stopped on the right shoulder. The car also got a little skittish when it was next to tractor-trailers, edging over to avoid them. But for the most part, it easily navigated bridges, traffic circles and open highways - even in heavy rain, Owens said. "We expected we would be in autonomous mode most of the time, but to be in it close to 99 percent of the time was a pleasant surprise," Owens said yesterday. "The equipment was flawless. Delphi engineers collected nearly 3 terabytes of data - equivalent to 30 percent of all of the printed material in the Library of Congress - that they can use to further enhance autonomous driving systems. One surprise: The variation in lane markings across states and communities. Some had wide white stripes, others had narrow yellow ones. Some were new, some were faded, and some were marked with raised bumps. Delphi will have to further train its cameras to detect all kinds of lane markings because that's one way autonomous cars keep themselves centered in a lane, Owens said. Owens said the cameras also got a little blinded in bright sunlight and in rainy weather, but the radar systems always provided backup. Delphi will use the lessons it learned to improve the systems that eventually will be used in autonomous and even driverless cars..
When you get your car honey, come take me for a ride, okay?
I want a car like that! It would be awesome! Hey, velvet, drive me in your car someday!
Sounds like it needs a whole lot of work before I say I want it. I want a car that
can drive itself all the time, not most of the time. This is my biggest hang up
about this technology, and my biggest rejection of the things that were said
when it was tested at the NFB convention a couple years ago.
The NFB guy, I don't remember his name, said that google should design a
car that blind people could drive, not one that drives itself. That is one of the
most idiotic things I've ever heard. This article points out why. How is a totally
blind person supposed to correct the car when its rainy or the lane markers are
faded? Yeah, ninety-nine times out of a hundred its fine, the other one percent,
you die. Not good enough odds for my taste.
I agree Wayne.
Well, it might not happen in some of our lifetimes, but I suspect eventually there will be cars that can completely drive themselves so that a blind person can safely be at the wheel and not have to worry about a mistake.
I agree, but I think it will be when the majority of cars are self-driving. It
won't be when its a rarity like it is now.
Yes, agreed. I'd be much more comfortable having one of these when most people do, blind or sighted.
I agree with Cody for the most part. A lot more testing will need to be done before such an automobile will be cleared for everyday use. That the technology is in place is a good step however. In time we may be a great deal more independant. As for statistics, it only takes 1% error to kill you. But then there's a lot of margin for error when driving in any circumstance.
I agree with COdy. That statement from Mark Ricoboner was and is completely idiotic.
I'll test it, I'm a risk taker, and besides, you can die in a regular car too, I'd love to test it, I'd give anything to be able to drive. I'm sick of having to depend on everyone, I want to independently go out and take my friends to Six Flags and clubs.
I love the idea of it, but I am too cynical to believe it will ever happen. Sighted people will never feel comfortable having a totally blind person operate a vehicle. The ignorance is too pervasive. They don't even trust we can cross a street, independently, much less drive or monitor a car. And say you're going to drive with kids in the car? NO way! It won't be allowed.
The trucks are being tested, but they all have drivers aboard.
The drivers still have to do some task.
I read another article recently that talked about further testing. But they haven't yet tested one without a driver there just in case some human action is needed. They eventually want cars to not have steering wheels, brakes, or accelerators.
Yeah, that thought makes me pretty squeamish. How would you control the car in the event of a software failure in that case? I'm not even talking about how would a blind person do it, I mean how would anyone?
The trucks are actually being used.
They can't back in to loading bays, turn sharp corners when there is lots of traffic, and some other things.
Mainly the computer is like an assistant. You can relax while it is doing okay and monitor it.
It is said to be less stress or work for long distance truckers, but they must stay aware.