Will driverless cars be good for cyclists or result in big restrictions?
#26
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I was somewhat surprised that Google set out with the initial goal of a fully autonomous car rather than having an intermediate step which strikes me as far simpler - full 'cruise-control' on freeways. I.e. you'd drive normally until you get to the freeway and then activate the enhanced cruise-control which would take over control until you neared your programmed destination exit. You could then nap, play computer games, etc. until a signal goes off near the exit and you resume control of the car. If the driver failed to retake control there'd be a planned safe-stop procedure where the car comes to a stop in a parking area and an alarm is generated so someone would come out to check on the health of the driver.
#27
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Don't get me wrong! I love the idea of both electric and computer controlled automobiles. But it would be best if the those ideas are allowed to fully bake and be exploited for what they are. Not selected and pushed before they are ready.
Last edited by Dave Cutter; 10-24-14 at 03:05 PM.
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I wonder if electric car sales are as "brisk" as Segway sales; presumably to government agencies with just as high percentage.
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I think the Segway platform has real possibilities with some of the robot research being done for/with NASA. Not sure how that will workout for Segway... but it's platform may find a future there.
Last edited by Dave Cutter; 10-24-14 at 06:14 PM.
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Segways may be the base for the robotic soldiers of the future. The earliest versions of most technologies are clunky and expensive and fall short in a lot of unanticipated ways. But someone has to push through the early phase or we wouldn't be enjoying the mature technologies today.
#31
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Catch-22, but the mapping problem seems somewhat solvable by having many Google-cars rolling and collecting/uploading mapping data as they go. Sure, someone's going to be first on the scene of a change, but perhaps that can be solved as processing power and detection systems continue marching forward.
Also, just as people nay-sayed electric cars just a few years ago because of their limited range and long down-times, they are selling fairly briskly in spite of these continuing issues. Autonomous cars don't need to be able to go everywhere. How many people drive, or even care to be able to drive, all the roads in existence? If the early versions are restricted to even something like California and Nevada exclusive of the rural portions they would have a customer base in the millions, more than enough to get the ball irreversibly rolling.
Also, just as people nay-sayed electric cars just a few years ago because of their limited range and long down-times, they are selling fairly briskly in spite of these continuing issues. Autonomous cars don't need to be able to go everywhere. How many people drive, or even care to be able to drive, all the roads in existence? If the early versions are restricted to even something like California and Nevada exclusive of the rural portions they would have a customer base in the millions, more than enough to get the ball irreversibly rolling.
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#32
In the right lane
This makes me feel better. I always wonder if the car behind me is guided by a texting maniac. Now I have another thing to think about
#33
Banned
A car train that offers the small space of a compartment in a old fashioned Rail Car style like the one to Hogwarts ,
but is able to separate from the ones ahead and behind it ,
to let the pasengers off, like a taxi, but removing the driver jobs and cash transfer of a taxi .. (& robbery of driver )
it will, of course, require you to use the phone linked bank account debiting. or credit card to same effect.
and be wealth-class based .. get out of the way Peasant !
but is able to separate from the ones ahead and behind it ,
to let the pasengers off, like a taxi, but removing the driver jobs and cash transfer of a taxi .. (& robbery of driver )
it will, of course, require you to use the phone linked bank account debiting. or credit card to same effect.
and be wealth-class based .. get out of the way Peasant !
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randya
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