My late model SUV has a lane departure alarm, that beeps if I cross the lane markers. When I drive the roads nearest my home, I have to drive over sections of road where utility work was done with asphalt patching applied after the work was finished. Every time I drive over these sections, I get the lane departure warning signal. I wonder what would happen if a self-driving application had control of my steering wheel, gas pedal, and brake pedal. Would it swerve me into oncoming traffic or toward the shoulder, where there are often bicyclists?
We are a long, LONG way away from self-driving cars. Ignore the hype.
- AI is too primitive to adapt as quickly and as flexibly as it needs to. For example, a dusting of snow changes the “look” of the street sufficiently to render AI useless.
- There are many things AI does well, but recognizing subtle and rapidly-changing patterns in the environment is not one of them. We’re evolved to do that, thanks to our tree-swinging prey ancestors.
- AI is relying on a combination of brute-force use of data (thus, it doesn’t adapt, it uses existing data), GPS, and LIDAR to try and drive around. If there were no people, and it was a stable environment at all times, it would do fine. Unfortunately, that is precisely the opposite of what self-driving cars demand.
- There might be a way to establish limited-access roads strictly for self-driving cars, but doing so undermines the whole point of self-driving cars! We’re talking about a Disney ride writ large.
Semi autonomous cars are already on the road. They warn us when we backup into traffic. They can do an emergency stop, if needs be. Maintain distance and speed on the highway. Control traction in wet/snow weather. Buzz your bum, if you drift out of your lane. Auto switch on the headlamps and wipers. Call for help, when we crash thru the front door at Walgrens.
For the elderly, auto drive cars would be a Godsend. Imagine if it was safe for Grandma to take herself to the market. She could hop in, say her destination and then go and return in one piece. No need to take the keys away from her.
And one more thing, a self driving car never texts while driving, never gets boozed up or smokes a load of dope.
A person clothed in all black smashed one of the company’s cars with a hammer in the Lower Haight, according to a video obtained by SFGATE. San Francisco Police Department Sergeant Kathryn Winters told SFGATE the incident happened at around 11 p.m. Sunday. Cruise spokesperson Navideh Forghani said the car was empty.
The video, which Lower Haight resident Catery Villela told SFGATE she filmed from her dining room window, shows one of Cruise’s ubiquitous driverless cars standing still in the intersection of Haight Street and Buchanan Street. The front hood of the car appears to be spray-painted, and the masked person is seen repeatedly slamming a hammer into the car’s roof-mounted equipment. They move on to hitting the car’s front window before whacking again at the gear on top of the car.
I like the thought of self driving cars, but no autonomous cars. My idea was to imbed some sort of guide in every street that allowed 30 mph or more, including interstates. The car would be driven by a human until it merged onto the guided highway. At that time the car/guide system would take over. I know I didn’t come up with an original idea here, but I had fun thinking it through and working out the details. I won’t bore you with those details, but imagine sitting back in your car and taking a nap or reading the paper at 140 mph.
B 8671 8 months ago
There is no way in hell that I will EVER get a self driving car!!! This is taking AI too far.
sevaar777 8 months ago
And then Skynet took over Crusey and decided the fate of the passengers in a microsecond. “Terminator, the Elon Musk way”.
ART Thompson Premium Member 8 months ago
Fourth panel is McFadden at his best.
mourdac Premium Member 8 months ago
Can’t wait for semis on the road without drivers ….
phritzg Premium Member 8 months ago
My late model SUV has a lane departure alarm, that beeps if I cross the lane markers. When I drive the roads nearest my home, I have to drive over sections of road where utility work was done with asphalt patching applied after the work was finished. Every time I drive over these sections, I get the lane departure warning signal. I wonder what would happen if a self-driving application had control of my steering wheel, gas pedal, and brake pedal. Would it swerve me into oncoming traffic or toward the shoulder, where there are often bicyclists?
Motivemagus 8 months ago
We are a long, LONG way away from self-driving cars. Ignore the hype.
- AI is too primitive to adapt as quickly and as flexibly as it needs to. For example, a dusting of snow changes the “look” of the street sufficiently to render AI useless.
- There are many things AI does well, but recognizing subtle and rapidly-changing patterns in the environment is not one of them. We’re evolved to do that, thanks to our tree-swinging prey ancestors.
- AI is relying on a combination of brute-force use of data (thus, it doesn’t adapt, it uses existing data), GPS, and LIDAR to try and drive around. If there were no people, and it was a stable environment at all times, it would do fine. Unfortunately, that is precisely the opposite of what self-driving cars demand.
- There might be a way to establish limited-access roads strictly for self-driving cars, but doing so undermines the whole point of self-driving cars! We’re talking about a Disney ride writ large.
Willywise52 Premium Member 8 months ago
Self-driving cars are stupid!
The Lone Panda & Tonto 8 months ago
Semi autonomous cars are already on the road. They warn us when we backup into traffic. They can do an emergency stop, if needs be. Maintain distance and speed on the highway. Control traction in wet/snow weather. Buzz your bum, if you drift out of your lane. Auto switch on the headlamps and wipers. Call for help, when we crash thru the front door at Walgrens.
For the elderly, auto drive cars would be a Godsend. Imagine if it was safe for Grandma to take herself to the market. She could hop in, say her destination and then go and return in one piece. No need to take the keys away from her.
And one more thing, a self driving car never texts while driving, never gets boozed up or smokes a load of dope.
Cerabooge 8 months ago
I’d actually like the Cyberman Truck if it were the same size as the mini murder machine.
Radish the wordsmith 8 months ago
A person clothed in all black smashed one of the company’s cars with a hammer in the Lower Haight, according to a video obtained by SFGATE. San Francisco Police Department Sergeant Kathryn Winters told SFGATE the incident happened at around 11 p.m. Sunday. Cruise spokesperson Navideh Forghani said the car was empty.
The video, which Lower Haight resident Catery Villela told SFGATE she filmed from her dining room window, shows one of Cruise’s ubiquitous driverless cars standing still in the intersection of Haight Street and Buchanan Street. The front hood of the car appears to be spray-painted, and the masked person is seen repeatedly slamming a hammer into the car’s roof-mounted equipment. They move on to hitting the car’s front window before whacking again at the gear on top of the car.
Packratjohn Premium Member 8 months ago
I like the thought of self driving cars, but no autonomous cars. My idea was to imbed some sort of guide in every street that allowed 30 mph or more, including interstates. The car would be driven by a human until it merged onto the guided highway. At that time the car/guide system would take over. I know I didn’t come up with an original idea here, but I had fun thinking it through and working out the details. I won’t bore you with those details, but imagine sitting back in your car and taking a nap or reading the paper at 140 mph.
Phoenix83 8 months ago
How automakers insidiously shaped our cities for cars — Fast City — 09-01-22
Elon Musk responds after Super Bowl ad shows Tesla cars crashing and ‘killing children’ — The Independent — 2023
Quote: Musk has previously said it would be morally wrong to ban self-driving cars, as they save lives.
Appearing at Nvidia’s developers conference in 2015, Musk said humans driving cars is “too dangerous”.
Tesla’s self-driving technology fails to detect children in the road, group claims - The Guardian - 2022
john_chubb 8 months ago
Quick, someone traffic-cone that car!
https://www.Npr.org/2023/08/28/1196283050/protesters-armed-with-traffic-cones-are-immobilizing-driverless-cars
The Lone Panda & Tonto 8 months ago
I’d like to be made into a Dalek…
Exterminate! Exterminate!
willie_mctell 8 months ago
Self driving cars is a perfectly reasonable idea. The problem is the alpha testing on public streets.