Posted on 09/13/2013 9:54:52 AM PDT by null and void
The driverless S-Class was able to deal with some difficult situations involving traffic lights, roundabouts, pedestrians, cyclists and trams
A particular challenge for autonomous vehicles is the way in which they communicate and interact with other cars.
'This sometimes results in comical situations, such as when, having stopped at a zebra crossing, the vehicle gets waved through by the pedestrian – yet our car stoically continues to wait, because we failed to anticipate such politeness when we programmed the system.'
Scientists at Oxford University are working with Nissan in Sunderland to create ‘robotcars’ that can drive themselves independently using details of the road they are driving on stored in on-board software.
The Nissan self-drive Leaf electric car is controlled by an iPad, and the Oxford team behind it claim the technology could be installed in mainstream cars as a £60 option.
Cameras and lasers built into its chassis map a 3D model of its surroundings when it is driven manually, which is fed into a computer stored in the boot.
A laser at the front scans 164ft ahead 13 times per second for obstacles, such as pedestrians, cyclists, or other cars in an 85-degree field of view.
If it senses an obstacle, it slows and comes to a controlled stop. The driver can tap the brake pedal to regain control of the vehicle from the computer.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I can see the insurance issues now:
Officer: Your car hit him!
But I wasn’t driving!
If a Drone can get hacked, so can this. What a Buggy Ride that would be. “Look a cliff! Whew that was close.”
But driving is fun! Why would anyone want a self-driver? But then again I don’t understand why some people want an automatic rather than standard transmission.
Bad enough with the stupid auto brake system. Pumping is better...more control. Those brakes can’t “see” the circumstances. And the system is darn expensive to fix.
ping
So what happens when you drink and the car drives you home?
While I do enjoy driving my car, the ability to actually go to a bar and drink something at all because the car can get me home does hold some appeal. Also on particularly long trips, sometimes it would be nice to take a nap or read.
Might come in handy on a first date with a hottie. LOL Okay okay third date. Sheesh.
Let’s think about it. A car sideswipes you...what kind of action does the car take since there is a car in front, in back and on the other side and everyone is traveling at 65 mph.
Fair points.
” I don’t understand why some people want an automatic rather than standard transmission.”
You’ve never had to drive 40,000 miles a year in Los Angeles!!
Cars that you occupy but don’t drive are called buses, trains, taxis, trolleys.....Get it??
Not sure this will take off, but the rear view camera was a good idea. My SO’s car has it and as I was backing out I almost hit the garbage can if not for the warning.
It goes into Terminator mode to get the offending auto. lol
And hackers, of course.
/johnny
I'm particularly unimpressed with this feature which,I assume,uses the same type of sensors and computers that this self driving car would.
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