In reply to 1988RedT2:
One good question to ask- WHY are the highways jammed? Since a lot of back ups are caused by variation in driving, which escalates as it goes backward up the line- theoretically, autonomous cars can pack more in the same space and keep it moving better.
That's kind of one of the points. Theoretically.
What I would like to know is have they tested self driving cars in bad weather conditions? How do they handle snow, ice, heavy rain, etc.? I haven't read anything about this. All their testing that I've read about has taken place in sunny California. I may be wrong on this but I just haven't read anything.
In reply to alfadriver:
Theoretically. I think it's an excuse offered by those in a position to have made better decisions regarding transportation infrastructure projects. I suppose the proof will be in the pudding, so to speak.
jimbbski wrote: What I would like to know is have they tested self driving cars in bad weather conditions? How do they handle snow, ice, heavy rain, etc.? I haven't read anything about this. All their testing that I've read about has taken place in sunny California. I may be wrong on this but I just haven't read anything.
Of course not, you don't expect these to be robust, afterall, do you?
Yes, you have not read all things about it- you are just reading Google and Apple's news. Everyone else working on it is Germany, Japan, or SE MI. BTW, if you are interested in getting involved, there are a LOT of companies hiring to work on it. Including the one I'm employed at.
1988RedT2 wrote: In reply to alfadriver: Theoretically. I think it's an excuse offered by those in a position to have made better decisions regarding transportation infrastructure projects. I suppose the proof will be in the pudding, so to speak.
I don't doubt there's a major infrastructure problem.
But I think I should point out that this thread is about how autonomous cars can help a good part of the driving society that doesn't even face those kind of traffic problems.
Dad is still a good driver rain, snow or shine at 92 yrs. less some night vision loss but I have some of that myself. I receive his OnStar reports since he has no email and he has been consistently near 10K/ year for as long as I can remember. I keep an eye on the maintenance and tire pressure. There are senior buses if/ when he has to hang it up but he'll never go for that. I'm soon to be only 58, cars and driving are my life and while I like the latest and greatest gizmos I really don't wanna go to autonomous vehicles. Maybe I'm just old school enough.
1988RedT2 wrote: Let's do the maths. Urban highways jammed with cars now. Autonomous cars open up transportation options for millions who cannot or choose not to drive. Congestion goes away and everyone is happy. Yeah, right.Mass transit, anyone?
I very much get your point, in fact I've said much the same in a different way, where everyone thinks switching to electric cars will fix everything. No, we'll just be sitting in the same morning traffic as we are now, it'll just be quieter.
Anyhow, I started this thread because there are people unable to get around on their own - how can they access these mass transporation sites you speak of? At best they're just using a cane and can walk several hundred feet. At worst, they're in a non-electric wheelchair and won't leave the house. To be able to roll into the garage, slide into a self-driving car, and say, "take me to see the grandkids", or "take me to the hospital" is a pretty awesome thing to look forward to.
Lastly, while I agree autonomous cars are an ambitious thing, it's no where nearly as hard as a flying car, and way less expensive. Still, I wouldn't want to be Google after the release - I can only imagine the hundreds of lawsuits just waiting to happen; sooo many oddball scenarios to consider.
Obviously none of this applies directly to able-bodied drivers, unless they want it to.
In reply to kb58:
"The old keep getting older, the young must do the same." KK
Don't
alfadriver wrote:1988RedT2 wrote: In reply to alfadriver: Theoretically. I think it's an excuse offered by those in a position to have made better decisions regarding transportation infrastructure projects. I suppose the proof will be in the pudding, so to speak.I don't doubt there's a major infrastructure problem. But I think I should point out that this thread is about how autonomous cars can help a good part of the driving society that doesn't even face those kind of traffic problems.
Eric is on to something. Ive spent a lot of time thinking on this - my commute every day sees congestion both ways on the interstate, and its always in the same place...Never an accident, just dolts behind the wheel. Ive pondered this situation as I stew in a roiling cauldron of blistering rage at the stupidity of my fellow driver 
Theres only so much room in any given section of highway. There are only so many cars that can fit in that space. However, most of the time, its not literally bumper to bumper, where that limit of cars/mile has been reached from a physical perspective. Its usually more of an accordion action with intervals of start/stop (waves can actually be measured in lines of traffic, similar to concussion waves in a liquid) where theres plenty of room, but the spacing is not even or constant. The problem is not that there's not enough room, its that people use more room than they need.
Because you cant drive thru the car in front of you, the "space" a car occupies in traffic is essentially the length of the car, plus the length of open space between it and the car in front of it. If you shorten that length, then you can increase the density of cars to freeway section safely (to a point of course). If people would simply follow the "2 second rule" (keep the distance between you and the car in front of you down to the distance required to allow 2 seconds to pass between the time the car in front of you passes a fixed point, and the time you arrive at it), the dead space between the car in front of you and your car would be shrunk, thereby, allowing more cars to fit safely in that section of freeway.
People drive like berktards, and feel the need to keep 11 car lengths between them and the car in front of them, even when they're crawling at 10mph. makes me crazy...
Is it wrong my first thought when I hear about automated cars is how much smoother things could be, without that override clause, to have the people that met winston churchhill and currently flood the streets ridiculously slowly and dangerously be able to move at a reasonable pace and in a straight line?
I'm from and living in PA again. The oldest average age state right after florida. It's downright scary driving past on ramps and side entrances to the highway and seeing a giant land yacht come out at 3 miles an hour, swerve through both lanes, then settle in at a reasonable 25 below the speed limit without so much as a glance in the direction of oncoming traffic. Usually straddling the lanes so you cant get around them even on the shoulder. Not that I would ever pass someone on the shoulder, nope, not this guy.
4cylndrfury wrote: Theres only so much room in any given section of highway. There are only so many cars that can fit in that space. However, most of the time, its not literally bumper to bumper, where that limit of cars/mile has been reached from a physical perspective. Its usually more of an accordion action with intervals of start/stop (waves can actually be measured in lines of traffic, similar to concussion waves in a liquid) where theres plenty of room, but the spacing is not even or constant. The problem is not that there's not enough room, its that people use more room than they need.
There is a way to take advantage of that space... but only California and the rest of the world outside the US have figured it out. Plus, nothing flounders a traffic thread like thowing filtering into the mix. Autonomous cars would have to communicate with each other to pack a tight density so lane changes could occur but otherwise it could work well. As long as there are trucks with 60 ton loads trying to get going up a hill - there will be waves. It isn't usually cars except at times when the sun is in their eyes.
well, gettin' back to gettin' older
gettin' older sucks
I was corrected by a much older person, "getting old doesn't suck, being old does."
alfadriver wrote: In reply to 1988RedT2: One good question to ask- WHY are the highways jammed?
The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last-chance power drive!
As a friend of mine says "I no longer look forward to birthdays but on the other hand I also don't look forward to missing them either"
AngryCorvair wrote:alfadriver wrote: In reply to 1988RedT2: One good question to ask- WHY are the highways jammed?The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last-chance power drive!
Is that a line from Vanishing Point? Because that sounds like it could be a line from Vanishing Point.
Springsteen
End of life questions often center around quality of life. When I cannot shift for myself, I'm ready to go.
(I'm dying of laughter because I left the F out of shift and had to correct it!)
fasted58 wrote: Springsteen
I'll just go ahead and kick myself in the nuts, now.
I recognize it as a line from "Born to Run", now. They play that song every Friday at 5pm. (Along with "Switching to Glide" (I think is the name) and of course "Cleveland Rocks".)
(because Cleveland rocks)
(parentheses rule)
pinchvalve wrote: End of life questions often center around quality of life. When I cannot shift for myself, I'm ready to go. (I'm dying of laughter because I left the F out of shift and had to correct it!)
I have had the experience of having family members whose final days/weeks/months involved your typo. I'd like to do with a little bit more dignity than that.
You'll need to log in to post.
