Autonomous racing will also be able to include technical advantages that have been outlawed in motorsports, like active aero, mechanical downforce, etc. Computer systems will once again be able to manage these technical systems in ways that humans can not.
As far as impact on what we do...
So far implementation is based on options short of a few things.
They are basically phasing in "save your bacon" technology in order to make cars prevent accidents. This is similar to the phase-ins we have seen in the past of ABS, TCS, and ESC. Backup cameras are now required and we are headed to having Crash Imminent Braking (or Automatic Emergency Braking) being standard on everything (see http://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/17/nhtsa-iihs-20-automakers-auto-braking-2022/ ) (and before someone freaks on this, I have a feeling that there will be easy ways to shut the system off through blinding a sensor, most likely a camera. Bring on the painters tape!!)
Those are Safety systems. So far, other autonomous tech has been seen as a luxury extra rather than a safety system. (think cruise control and more recently, Adaptive Cruise Control) While an upper level Autonomous Car is in theory a safer car than one driven by John Q Public (remember, the case is for the average schmoe driver, so consider the Idiots you see on the road rather than your own habits) However, I am not so much noticing anything approaching a mandate to take the human out of the loop and I have doubts about the success of such a mandate.
There are possibilities though that they may make autonomous only lanes in high congestion areas in order to allow better utilization of the roads (autonomous cars can have much shorter follow distances with V2V communications and such and fit more cars per area of road) You might see something where you need an autonomous car in order to go into a city center (think the current London England situation)..
At least thats my thoughts on where we are going.
Worst case, we see a rise in the percentage of purpose built formula/sportsracer type cars for our hobby as the standard road equipment becomes less suitable for racing use.
How much would it really cost to build something like a SCCA Spec Racer if economies of scale and sealed components/etc economic factors were mitigated?
Plus, consider this... Autonomous TOWING. Imagine what an Autonomous RV can do for your racing weekend!
Like tools in my shop, I would view it as an enhancement to my abilities, not a threat.
Drive me to work? Absolutely, because I can improve my productivity. Drive me to the track? Sure- that way I will be rested and ready to run. Drive me home? Sure, I can use every once of energy I have on the track and not have to save anything for the ride home.
I would not personally race autonomous cars- not interesting to me. I'd rather race my lawn mower. But I would use them. Autonomous racing will start as the realm of college race teams, professionals, manufacturers exibition events, etc.
Kind of like NASCAR used to be to auto sales- "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday".
Apexcarver wrote: (and before someone freaks on this, I have a feeling that there will be easy ways to shut the system off through blinding a sensor, most likely a camera. Bring on the painters tape!!)
I am guessing a fuse, as putting tape over the sensor might make it lock the brakes on you because there is an object RIGHT THERE!
RevRico wrote: What I'm kind of looking forward to, and this is purely from sporting aspect, is how much faster and more intense racing can get when you get rid of that bag of meat behind the wheel. No longer needing to worry about keeping a human conscious through extreme g forces, could be fun to watch. 200mph into reducing radius switchbacks, or other crazy things.
As a fan I would have no interest in watching this. I find the drivers and teams to often be at least as interesting as the cars. Taking away the people makes it an exercise in testing parts. If you could push your car out to the grid at the 24 Hours of Lemans or Daytona 500, hit start and let it go and just stop every so often for a couple robots to add fuel and tires it takes away a lot of the strategy and chances for error. They will just mindlessly churn away laps until a part fails or they reach the end.
Brett_Murphy wrote:Apexcarver wrote: (and before someone freaks on this, I have a feeling that there will be easy ways to shut the system off through blinding a sensor, most likely a camera. Bring on the painters tape!!)I am guessing a fuse, as putting tape over the sensor might make it lock the brakes on you because there is an object RIGHT THERE!
Most of the systems I have encountered are smart enough to throw a "I'M NOT WORKING!!!" code and blare some warnings on the display. Think this way, caked mud could/would result in brake lockup if it was the way you are thinking.
In reply to Wall-e:
But if you have the pace of development that F1 has or faster...
I can understand how endurance racing could be kinda boring without the driver factor, but sprint racing....
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