It really is hands free! Self-driving Mercedes-Benz is unveiled - and it should be available within

The Mail ^ | 07:02 EST, 12 September 2013 | Ellie Zolfagharifard

[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.

[Gay State Conservative]

But then again I don’t understand why some people want an automatic rather than standard transmission.

Life's too short for stick shifts.And besides...how could I text and drive with a stick?

[grobdriver]

If my math is right, 164ft at 60 MPH offers 2 seconds to stop, sensing an obstruction.

Have to be pretty quick and woe be unto the occupants... or drive at 25 MPH.

[WayneS]

They have zebras in the UK?

[WayneS]

I’m with you, my friend.

[massgopguy]

Speaking of the Stooges. In “Oily to Rise” they are in the back seat of a car with no one driving and as they are about to go over a cliff Curly says:”Don’t look now but I think we’re about to be killed.”

[WayneS]

The vehicle I’m using today has two brake actuators.

[DannyTN]

I think it's great:

• No more speeding tickets.
• Fewer traffic cops to pay for.
• Fewer accidents.
• A lot less auto body shops and money wasted on repairs.
• A lot less medical care needed for fewer accident patients.
• Fewer ambulance chasing lawyers.
• Fewer traffic courts.
• Fewer disability cases due to car accidents.
• People are freed to be productive during the car ride.
• Elderly who can no longer drive safely can now get around safely.
• Elderly that would need someone to drive them to the doctor can now go by themselves.
• Youth that need to get to ball practice can do so by themselves.
• Low cost driverless delivery vehicles would be possible.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

You’ve never had to drive 40,000 miles a year in Los Angeles!!

I drove 52,000 miles a year back in the 60s, mostly nighttime, on rural roads in Wisconsin. I tried to avoid expressways and major highways as that's where the speed cops hung out. My Opel was equipped w/ Quartz Iodide headlamps and driving lights as wandering deer were the greatest hazard. Winter wasn't too bad as "studded tires" were still legal. When the DOT banned studs I moved closer to work.

Regards,
GtG

[discostu]

Driving is fun most of the time. Sometimes it stinks. Last year due to family illness I did 3 cross country trips in 6 weeks, I wouldn’t have minded letting the car do its own driving for most of that, especially the late night second drive home. Speaking of late night drives home, I go up to Phoenix for concerts a lot, but driving back right after the concert is starting to wear on the aging brain and body, soon those concerts will have to include a hotel room, which means fewer concerts; a self driving car would fix that. I’d drive my own car probably 99% of the time, but that 1% of the time I’d let the car do the work would be wonderful.

[null and void]

They have zebras in the UK?

Yes. They are cross...

And a foreign student said to me --
Was it really true
there are elephants and lions too
In Piccadilly Circus?

[TribalPrincess2U]

Now the blind person with their gun can go to the shooting range!

Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

[TribalPrincess2U]

No problem...you weren’t driving!

[WayneS]

• Government can hack in to your car’s computer and send it hurling off a bridge, just because the emperor doesn’t like you.

[DannyTN]

"• Government can hack in to your car’s computer and send it hurling off a bridge, just because the emperor doesn’t like you."

They apparently can already do that on some cars now that are not self-driving. And they can also tamper with your car for any model without it being self-driving.

We need checks and balances on government, not limitation on technology.

[DannyTN]

"• Government can hack in to your car’s computer and send it hurling off a bridge, just because the emperor doesn’t like you."

They apparently can already do that on some cars now that are not self-driving. And they can also tamper with your car for any model without it being self-driving.

We need checks and balances on government, not limitation on technology.

[Sacajaweau]

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Research/Light+Vehicle+Antilock+Brake+Systems+(ABS)+Research+Program

[Dr. Sivana]

The vehicle I’m using today has two brake actuators.

I've never heard of that. how do you activate the second actuator, and when would you use it?

[Dr. Sivana]

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Research/Light+Vehicle+Antilock+Brake+Systems+(ABS)+Research+Program

Those docs are over ten years old. Since then, ABS has gotten better, and the drivers use it better.

By the way, I am NOT one of those put every new gizmo into every car. I spent much of my driving mileage in 1966 Dodge Darts (not known for its hefty brake system), and loving it. Every so often, a technology gets widely deployed that works. Fuel Injection and ABS seem to be two of them. Now if GM can only make an electric window that lasts more than ten years ...

And bring back brench seats!

[Doogle]

remember it well...

[Rennes Templar]

All good until the cars computer gets a virus!