"The door opened, you got in."
Posted on 01/12/2018 4:36:18 PM PST by equaviator
Today, GM unveiled the first image of its upcoming autonomous fourth-generation Bolt EV-based vehicle – the “first without a steering wheel or pedal.”
The automaker also says that it filed a petition asking the DOT permission to deploy the vehicle as soon as next year.
The move represents an accelerated self-driving timeline for the company, which could potentially leapfrog most other companies working on the technology since the most common timeline is a commercial launch in 2020-2022.
The vehicle would represent the next generation of Cruise AV autonomous car based on the Bolt EV.
In June, GM announced the completion of the first batch of 130 Chevy Bolt EV autonomous prototypes at its Orion Assembly Plant located in Orion Township, Michigan...They are already using part of their fleet to carry Cruise employees “anywhere in San Francisco using their app” – an early version of the service they plan to offer to the public someday.
Although GM claims to be the 1st without a steering wheel or pedal, Google has demonstrated pedal-less, steeringwheel-less autonomous vehicles first as part of its Google X labs in 2014 and now part of its Waymo spinoff. Google has since added back steering wheels to its own vehicles and *steered* the organization to more as add-ons to existing vehicles, especially Lexus crossovers and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids.
A few months later, they claimed to be ready to “mass produce” self-driving Chevy Bolt EVs and they announced an expansion of the test fleet to New York...In order to plead their case for the safety of their vehicle and submit their petition for the permission to deploy the vehicle, GM released a new “2018 Self-Driving Safety Report”.
The report explains the various passive and active safety features of the vehicle as well as all the redundant hardware.
I think that the “mirror” thing has also been taken into consideration.
Autonomous vehicles will have to be insured by the maker, and even the buses will be autonomous in the future.
.
>> “It will only take you where “whoever is controlling it” wants you to go.” <<
Perfect car for Democrap Screwel Teechurs.
.
Your autonomous vehicle will call for help, immediately, and the vehicle will be recording all events for investigations, so, the “attackers” will be thinking twice before going after you through your car.
.
B I N G O !
.
Self-drivers going crazy? Unlikely, since the systems that control the vehicle are redundant, meaning that, both sets of controls would have to go haywire before the vehicle gets out of control, but even then, the result will be a total systems shutdown, including any mechanical components, and “somebody” will be advised about your vehicles situation.
It’s not an “Obama motors” thing only. All the automakers are doing the same. GM just happens to be the one with the headlines currently. Tesla has been doing autonomous for a while, though not full autonomy.
Insurance for fully-autonomous vehicles will have to be covered by the carmakers. And, in fact, you won’t have to buy any vehicles in the future, so, car insurance will be a thing of the past.
I’ve loved driving and had a succession of sports cars over the years. But I’m getting older and my eyesight isn’t what it was. I fear a time when I won’t be able to drive and maybe this sort of thing could be a savior.
I bet trial lawyers are salivating after hearing this news.
Because they can then sue a very big company with deep pockets, after mishaps occur, and I can guarantee they will.
Will GM try to develop a car which never breaks down for 100,000 miles before launching driverless cars?
same thing the early astronauts told NASA.....give me some controls or send the monkey...
In this day and age, I’d be relieved to see a Johnnycab as it was depicted in the 1980s. Make it a fully functional body (in terms of being able to help load cargo) and I might not mind that there’s a robot behind the wheel.
Oh great, it calls for help while I'm beaten to death, because help is minutes away while death occurs in seconds. If the recording survives, it'll show my last words "Why oh why did I choose this car, it's the death of me!". No thanks, I want to control the car in order to save my life.
Why do they even want these? What commie plot are they?
I know. There is enough to watch out for. I’m in the automotive industry. Kinda don’t see it happening. Remove the driver. Remove the soul of the person. M A G A. Remember Donald Trump said he would bring Detroit back to life again. I am near there. Let’s go do that!.
I figured the car would fold up into a briefcase like on "The Jetsons."
It will make this Jack Handey saying obsolete....
“I just want to die peacefully in my sleep, unlike the screaming passengers in my car.”
Reminds me of when I was a teenage passenger in a friend's car long ago. There were four of us, on a drive on Highway 1 along the Pacific Coast highway. My crazy friend decides to attempt passing five cars. Mind you, it's one lane in each direction, with the lane against a steep rocky mountain side to the right, and the opposite direction lane with a steep cliff drop to the ocean at the left. My crazy friend just rebuilt his Chevy engine and thought it was powerful enough to do anything. As he began passing the five cars ahead by driving in the opposing lane, we saw several cars coming at us. Me and the other two passengers were screaming our heads off at the driver while cursing him. I'll never forget our brush with death as he barely veered back to the right ahead of the cars.
Now imagine being in an autonomous driven car coming from the opposite direction, with a speeding car going head-on towards you. Pacific Ocean cliff at one side, a bunch of cars in the opposing lane. What would your autonomous car do, while you're screaming your head off? Autonomous cars are a really, really bad idea.
I think I will just drive my Ram 1500.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.