Self-driving cars...former skeptic now a believer

DX2JX2

I'm somewhat of a car nut. I love driving and I love cars. Until recently I was firmly in the 'autonomous cars and driving aids are for lazy or careless people who don't deserve to be behind the wheel' camp.

I recently got a car with a traffic assist function. It can drive autonomously with minimal driver input up to something like 15-20 mph. This includes braking, accelerating, and steering. Basically, you can let it drive for you in normal stop and go traffic. I've been playing with it on my long-ish commute (about 35 miles each way, about 30% of the mileage in fairly heavy stop and go traffic). I read emails, zone out, look up things on the internet, and sometimes even close my eyes while the car takes care of things for me on the road.

I had to take my wife's car yesterday due to the weather and I can honestly say that I hated every single minute that I actually had to drive myself in traffic. It was a pain in the butt nightmare and I never want to do it again.

Consider me a convert. I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.

CaptainFantastic01

Didn't you see fast 8?

Smilin40

*kitten* self driving cars I love driving

cee134

DX2JX2 wrote: »

I'm somewhat of a car nut. I love driving and I love cars. Until recently I was firmly in the 'autonomous cars and driving aids are for lazy or careless people who don't deserve to be behind the wheel' camp.

I recently got a car with a traffic assist function. It can drive autonomously with minimal driver input up to something like 15-20 mph. This includes braking, accelerating, and steering. Basically, you can let it drive for you in normal stop and go traffic. I've been playing with it on my long-ish commute (about 35 miles each way, about 30% of the mileage in fairly heavy stop and go traffic). I read emails, zone out, look up things on the internet, and sometimes even close my eyes while the car takes care of things for me on the road.

I had to take my wife's car yesterday due to the weather and I can honestly say that I hated every single minute that I actually had to drive myself in traffic. It was a pain in the butt nightmare and I never want to do it again.

Consider me a convert. I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.

I can't wait for the day that cruise control means you don't have to drive on the highway and can read a book or something.

nancybuss

My 10 year old daughter went to an assembly at school yesterday that talked about this and she's all excited we will get a car that can just take her place...... hmmmm

Unknown

This content has been removed.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

Lounmoun

I see self driving cars as a way in future to give more independence and equality to people who are restricted from driving currently.

jseams1234

I'm not aware of any car that is approved for full autonomous driving at any speed. Driver "assist" is just that... assist. You should still be paying attention to the road and be fully prepared to take over if the software makes a mistake or something happens that requires a judgment call. You have a dog and a child run into the street. You can't stop in time and have to hit ONE of them. Which one is that car going to pick? Can it even tell the difference?

TheRoadDog

I'll never own one.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

RoxieDawn

So you went from being some what of a car nut and loving to drive cars to not? Bells and whistles on cars are nice, but nothing takes the place of driving especially if you own vintage/fun cars.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

WorkerDrone83

MeeseeksAndDestroy wrote: »

I see Uber testing them around here and also the Ubar camera cars. It's very interesting. Last I heard they couldn't make left turns...or could only make left turns. But that was a while ago

Lol. They weren't ambi-turners? That's hilarious.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

DX2JX2

RoxieDawn wrote: »

So you went from being some what of a car nut and loving to drive cars to not? Bells and whistles on cars are nice, but nothing takes the place of driving especially if you own vintage/fun cars.

Oh, I still love driving and I still love my cars. What I don't love is an hour and a half each day stuck in heavy stop and go traffic. That's when the self-driving car is a goldmine.

That said, I still don't believe in cruise control at highway speeds when there are other cars around, and I still row my own when I go out for fun drives on the weekend.

RoxieDawn

DX2JX2 wrote: »

RoxieDawn wrote: »

So you went from being some what of a car nut and loving to drive cars to not? Bells and whistles on cars are nice, but nothing takes the place of driving especially if you own vintage/fun cars.

Oh, I still love driving and I still love my cars. What I don't love is an hour and a half each day stuck in heavy stop and go traffic. That's when the self-driving car is a goldmine.

That said, I still don't believe in cruise control at highway speeds when there are other cars around, and I still row my own when I go out for fun drives on the weekend.

I might buy a helicopter if I had to drive in this everyday.

cee134

RoxieDawn wrote: »

DX2JX2 wrote: »

RoxieDawn wrote: »

So you went from being some what of a car nut and loving to drive cars to not? Bells and whistles on cars are nice, but nothing takes the place of driving especially if you own vintage/fun cars.

Oh, I still love driving and I still love my cars. What I don't love is an hour and a half each day stuck in heavy stop and go traffic. That's when the self-driving car is a goldmine.

That said, I still don't believe in cruise control at highway speeds when there are other cars around, and I still row my own when I go out for fun drives on the weekend.

I might buy a helicopter if I had to drive in this everyday.

Yeah, I rather play on my phone with the wifi that is also part of the car I am assuming then "drive" in rush hour traffic.

RoxieDawn

cee134 wrote: »

RoxieDawn wrote: »

DX2JX2 wrote: »

RoxieDawn wrote: »

So you went from being some what of a car nut and loving to drive cars to not? Bells and whistles on cars are nice, but nothing takes the place of driving especially if you own vintage/fun cars.

Oh, I still love driving and I still love my cars. What I don't love is an hour and a half each day stuck in heavy stop and go traffic. That's when the self-driving car is a goldmine.

That said, I still don't believe in cruise control at highway speeds when there are other cars around, and I still row my own when I go out for fun drives on the weekend.

I might buy a helicopter if I had to drive in this everyday.

Yeah, I rather play on my phone with the wifi that is also part of the car I am assuming then "drive" in rush hour traffic.

I am guessing you can get in a lot of work before you get to work, if I work an hour and half while driving to work then I get to leave work early and avoid traffic.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

JeepHair77

I seriously got anxiety just reading the OP. I don't think I could handle riding in a self-driving car.

JeepHair77

Early-ish in the days of GPS, my Garmin had me turn the wrong way on a one-way street. NOT so early in the days of GPS, Apple's map program sent me literally in circles. I followed her directions a few times before I realized it. Last time I ever listened to Siri.

I don't think I trust the machines to get me where I'm going in one piece just yet.

cee134

WAYMO (googles self driving car)TAKES THE FINAL STEP BEFORE LAUNCHING ITS SELF-DRIVING CAR SERVICE

https://www.wired.com/story/waymo-self-driving-car-service-phoenix/

But it means that Waymo is confident that its software and hardware are up to the task of safely and efficiently movingly people around town.

It does have humans in remote operations centers who can communicate with passengers and guide the car in complicated situations—like a cop sending cars the wrong way down a one-way street—but they never take actual control of the driving; it’s the car’s job to stay safe.

I agree, that a robot can react better then a human, so when they figure all that out I think self driving cars would be safer.

SabAteNine

AVs (automated vehicles) are all the new rage now I personally would like to see (at least in Europe) personal driving shifting to car-as-a-service in the next 15-20 years. I think there's way too many cars around in cities that are absolutely walkable and have fantastic public transport.
However, regarding AVs I find it funny that most use cases are for urban personal /taxi driving. There's a lot of skepticism and overcoming the adoption barriers is going to be tough. Plus, you double other municipal-provided services already.
I think that demonstration of driverless technology should focus first on long-distance, automation of trains / public transport and especially freight transport.

JustinAnimal

The debate seems to be between enjoying driving and enjoying your free time. Is no one else OUTRIGHT TERRIFIED at this prospect? The ethical questions or implications? The whole, if a car needs to decide between mowing down pedestrians or driving you into a wall, which will it choose?

Eff that. I firmly oppose Skynet in all of it's seemingly innocent iterations. The real question is: when the revolution comes, are you going to be some Uncle Tomdroid traitor and aid the machines so you get an extra ration of Soylent Green (TM), or are you going to side with humanity?

cee134

JustinAnimal wrote: »

The debate seems to be between enjoying driving and enjoying your free time. Is no one else OUTRIGHT TERRIFIED at this prospect? The ethical questions or implications? The whole, if a car needs to decide between mowing down pedestrians or driving you into a wall, which will it choose?

In theory an AV would have the reaction time to prevent hitting either.

cee134

Did you know that new cars are already controlled by computer chips? It's the computer chip that activates the brakes not the pedal.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

SabAteNine

We're a long (maybe not THAT long) from an AI in the SKYNET sense (generalist / super AI) but I don't think that the danger comes from AV chips.
I would be more concerned with remote access and hacking. *Shiver*

DX2JX2

JustinAnimal wrote: »

The debate seems to be between enjoying driving and enjoying your free time. Is no one else OUTRIGHT TERRIFIED at this prospect? The ethical questions or implications? The whole, if a car needs to decide between mowing down pedestrians or driving you into a wall, which will it choose?

Eff that. I firmly oppose Skynet in all of it's seemingly innocent iterations. The real question is: when the revolution comes, are you going to be some Uncle Tomdroid traitor and aid the machines so you get an extra ration of Soylent Green (TM), or are you going to side with humanity?

Based on the movies it doesn't look like the humans do so well in that war. I'll probably turn traitor and side with the machines in exchange for a prime position in the matrix.

Unknown

This content has been removed.