1955 Volvo
That's what Tsar Peter saved us all from.
Posted on 03/06/2013 8:25:39 AM PST by BenLurkin
SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — Volvo has unveiled a new cutting-edge device that automatically slams the brakes of a car when it spots and identifies pedestrians and cyclists in its pathway.
The high-definition cameras, which are located in the rear-view mirror and the car’s radar, first sends the driver warning lights and sounds when a person or bicyclist comes too close to the vehicle.
If the driver fails to react, that’s when the car will then come to a stop.
“Volvo has always been the leader in safety. They invented the three-point safety belt back in the 1950s. Take that forward thinking and that’s where we are today,” said Will Saunders of Volvo of Santa Monica.
Drivers believe the new technology could make a difference in people’s lives in today’s world of distracted motorists.
“If you could have that one extra signal or device that would maybe put the brakes on a little earlier, that would be great,” said driver Neal Davis.
According to Volvo, the radar device will be available in May and become standard in all of its 2014 models.
I am excited about this technology and applaud Volvo for developing it.
However ...
The word “slam” in the article is disturbing. In real life situations slamming on the brakes brings to mind possibly losing control of the vehicle, possibly hitting the cyclist or pedestrian that you were trying to avoid hitting anyway. So they probably meant non-skidding brake technology.
Exactly
Consider that half the drivers are below average intelligence . . .
“I can’t wait until we start getting the claims from the cars that parallel park themselves, but fail.”
They had a self-parking Lexus on an episode of Top Gear. It took FOUR ATTEMPTS for it to replicate a half-assed parallel parking job by a human.
You’re right about the poor choice of words.
In my car (’91 Miata, no ABS) I know to NEVER slam on the brakes; all that does is lock up the front wheels instantly, leaving me no option other than sliding forward until the car either stops or hits something.
1955 Volvo
That's what Tsar Peter saved us all from.
“Think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of ‘em are stupider than that!” - George Carlin
But that's about all of the driving I'd want a car to do for me.
This sounds like a bad, bad idea.
Actually, I think most of the fuel injected East Asian California designed engines are pretty much the same in that regard.
I can't recall a time on any trip where there wasn't a plastic bag, flattened cardboard box, etc. that didn't blow in front of my car, or shoot out from under a semi I was following.
I wonder if those would activate these brakes, and if so, doing so on an interstated doing 75 or 80 would probably not be that fun...
Having a car suddenly “slam” on the brakes for something that you may have already seen and taken into account while you are driving is not safe. Is Volvo making safe cars for drivers, or for people who should yield to the car?
Additionally, we don’t know what parameters have been programmed into the computer for the car to “recognize” people and bikes. And, if that code takes a glitch, how will it affect the way the vehicle performs?
This is just more nanny statism run amok and Sweden is a very liberal country that engages in a lot of nanny statism! The fact is that people are unpredictable and do things that a machine (e.g. computer) can’t accommodate. We need to go back to the days when drivers drove their cars, there were fewer distractions and pedestrians and bicyclists observed and adhered to the rules designed for their safety.
They are a small part of the push to eventually make us all passengers rather than drivers. It’s about slowly taking the individual decisions out of transport, until all transport is effectively a component in a managed mass transit scheme. I can see the not too distant future now: “Before exercising the privilege of movement you must first file an electronic travel application and let the vehicle submit it for approval. If your schedule and destination are approved, the vehicle will follow an assigned route to the permitted destination. Enjoy the luxury, comrade.”
no heart beat ~ car drives over mannequin
German study ~ the taxicab drivers were all krauts or kurds ~ not good test subjects at all ~ in combination with ESC, ABS is a fantastic advance in safety.
BTW, back in my days as a pedestrian I found that enough drivers pay no attention to pedestrians ~ or at least SEEM to pay no attention ~ that it's pretty dangerous to attempt to cross at any busy interesection even if there are full pedestrian lights.
So I'd pick up a rock ~ and those people who don't pay attention would pay attention just like the mean dog who thinks it's his job to bark and snarl at everybody.
No idea what I'd do with the rock but there'd be drivers sitting there, seething, snarling, look at me with evil eyes, and sometimes screaming.
Pedestrians are not, by law, in your way ~ you are supposed to take care to AVOID hitting them ~ these brakeing systems will help you.
No, the Czar didn't solve anything ~ they metastasized.
I assume this is the Volvo Ford, not the Volvo truck and bus guys in Sweden.
Computerized automobiles are an American idea!
You do realize this is an extension of your CRT/KEYBOARD array to another part of your life.
A few steps down the road from this particular mechanism your car will be talking to the other cars anyway ~ probably conspiring against some of us eh!(doom doom boom doom ~ tympany music booms out the dash)
Correction: in August 2010, Ford completed its sale of Volvo to the parent of Chinese motor manufacturer Geely Automobile for $1.8 billion according to Wiki so this is a Chicom conspiracy ~ not a Swedish conspiracy. They will get even with the Allies for dividing Manchuria up with the Russians I am sure!!!!!
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