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[Closed] Google self-driving cars

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The fact that it works 99% of the time is truly incredible.

Applied to cars, that means some form of failure 1 mile in every 100. Possibly very impressive to you, not something I'd want to count on.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 10:57 am
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Applied to cars

I was talking about laptops. It's perfectly possible to design a laptop that'd never crash, but the cost would put people off somewhat. And given it's not that onerous to simply restart your laptop, people are mostly happy with that (no idea if that's the real statistic of course, that was just for the sake of argument).

Cars would obviously have to be designed differently to laptops. Aeroplanes are designed with maximum safety, and they don't crash very often. And they are up in the air so they can't even stop when something goes wrong.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:01 am
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Aeroplanes are designed with maximum safety,

Like controls to allow manual overide?

And given it's not that onerous to simply restart your laptop,

No it's not, but restarting the computer controlling a car at 70 mph on a busy motorway is not something I'd be all that keen on.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:05 am
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Are actually staring to build them?

Where are they going to sell these?

They are completely illegal in 99% of countries!


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:06 am
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No it's not, but restarting the computer controlling a car at 70 mph on a busy motorway is not something I'd be all that keen on.

FFS

Read the following very carefully and slowly:

A COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS YOUR CAR WOULD NOT BE THE SAME AS YOUR LAPTOP.

It would not need restarting.

Do you honestly think someone would design something so safety critical that runs off a laptop, without safety features and without extensive testing?


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:19 am
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When missing the point is made an olympic discipline. You'll be our best chance for gold.

By that time we will be able to make computers miss the point/destination much better than a human!


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:32 am
 Solo
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[i]Do you honestly think someone would design something so safety critical that runs off a laptop, without safety features[/i]

This is a cyclingerists forum... Where, at times, the stupidity contained in some of the posts here, does give one pause for more thought.
😐

However, all that being as it may. Hell, lets install two laptops into our very own STW, self drive car.
I'll be greedy here, as well as an extra laptop, possibly a Tecknia laptop from tesco. Please can we have enough room in the trunk to transport our Orange 5 with us. I can then clean and lube it as I travel to my cycling destination.
🙂


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:35 am
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"I'd want manual controls as well"

STW Horseless carriage...

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:38 am
 Solo
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[i]By that time we will be able to make computers miss the point/destination much better than a human![/i]

Well, you at least. Assuming you're "[i]Human[/i]".


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:38 am
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Where, at times, the stupidity contained in some of the posts here, does give one pause for more thought.

Come on then, explain where I'm being stupid.

EDIT ok I'll have a go, with a bit of charity

You are saying that even well designed systems fail occasionally. Yes, that's true, but so do humans. And the point is that properly designed computers can be a lot more reliable than humans. That's why they use them in aeroplanes.

However, in response to the cars that started this thread - it seems silly not to have manual controls at all, if they are to be used in general real-world driving.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:39 am
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Didn't the Costa Concordia crash because the driver took it off auto to show a woman how big his dick was ? The sooner they take the steering wheels out of the cars the better.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:50 am
 Solo
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[i]Come on then, explain where I'm being stupid.[/i]
That comment wasn't directed at anyone here, specifically. Apologies if you thought I meant you.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:52 am
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I think it's great. I'll empower people who can't otherwise get around as easily - blind, disabled, old etc.

As an aside, you could drive to work, jump out, and the car goes and parks itself. When you're ready to go home, just tell your car and it'll come and get you.

Go out for a few beers, and your car can come pick you up (minus the nagging about how late you are).

The list of benefits is endless 🙂


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:53 am
 Solo
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[i]I think it's great. I'll empower people who can't otherwise get around as easily - blind, disabled, old etc.[/i]

Yes, I made this point earlier.

[i]Go out for a few beers, and your car can come pick you up[/i]
Where I'm from, we call those taxis.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:57 am
 IanW
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This is like listening to victorians saying the car will never replace horse and carriages.

edit: Taxis will be the first to go auto.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 11:58 am
 Solo
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[i]This is like listening to victorians saying the car will never replace horses.[/i]

What they actually said was that we'd be drowning in 9 feet of horse shit and piss, in the near future as the number of horses increased in line with the number of people able to afford them and require a horse for transportation.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:00 pm
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Where I'm from, we call those taxis.

Taxi minus the idiot driver. Win win.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:01 pm
 Solo
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[i]edit: Taxis will be the first to go auto.[/i]

Have you told Tom the taxi driver yet ? wonder what he'll say.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:01 pm
 Solo
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[i]Taxi minus the idiot driver. Win win.[/i]
Are you sure the idiot is in the taxi ?

Ok, I take it back. Perhaps we have just found STW's first living brain donor.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:04 pm
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Still be made by the lowest bidder, whatever you say.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:04 pm
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wonder what he'll say

Why not ask Tom the filing clerk?


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:07 pm
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Ok, I take it back. Perhaps we have just found STW's first living brain donor.

Awww... why so grumpy? are you going through a menstrual cycle?


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:08 pm
 Solo
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[i]Awww... why so grumpy? are you going through a menstrual cycle?[/i]

Not grumpy, midly amused at the naivety in some comments. I note no one has commented on what google's motivation is for doing this...


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:12 pm
 Solo
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[i]Still be made by the lowest bidder, whatever you say.[/i]
Too true. Maybe it'll be one laptop to run all the cars on your street 😯


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:13 pm
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What do you think Google's motivation is then?


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:14 pm
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jambalaya - Member
...On an interesting side note a friend was at a demo Volvo where doing of their automatic braking system for pedestrian avoidance, the car ran over the model pedestrian and smashed in to a wall

Yeah, but the model pedestrian was thinking of getting a bike, so it's ok.

Automatic cars - roll on the day as far as I'm concerned.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:14 pm
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I did, its so they have a captive audience for marketing, or taking you to their sponsors outlets 🙂

Just a modern version of thoes holiday tours that all end up in the blokes cousins reasuturant or shop.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:15 pm
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Come on then, explain where I'm being stupid.

A COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS YOUR CAR WOULD NOT BE THE SAME AS YOUR LAPTOP.

It would not need restarting.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:16 pm
 Solo
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[i]Why not ask Tom the filing clerk?[/i]

Actually, the question is. What are we saying, when we're throwing people onto the dole with such glee. I mean, I'm no fan of taxi drivers, but how's it all going to [i]work[/i] if we're all out of a job cos computers do it all for us.

[img] [/img]
😐

Edit:
Ok, work time now.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:17 pm
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I note no one has commented on what google's motivation is for doing this...

Less time driving, more time on your phone/laptop/device(s) being bombarded with Google's advertising. At the end of the day Google is an advertising company - it creates devices so it can target you with dedicated advertising.

You'll get in your (driverless) car... car asks "where do you want to go" (search engine), owner: "To a italian restaurant" (search query), car offers several in the area (search results) - like 'Pay per click' Google will be paid for offering adverts etc.

Google will also be tracking your driving, where you're going etc, and tailor the car to the user providing suggestions on where to go, what to do.

Regardless of their motivation though, what Google are doing is inspiring.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:19 pm
 Solo
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[i]Regardless of their motivation though, what Google are doing is inspiring.[/i] People to part with their hard earned.

FTFY

Btw, you realize google is listed ? you know, like google has to give an ROI for the share holders, right ?....


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:22 pm
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Come on then, explain where I'm being stupid.
A COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS YOUR CAR WOULD NOT BE THE SAME AS YOUR LAPTOP.
It would not need restarting.

Why's that stupid? Explain please.

Less time driving, more time on your phone/laptop/device(s) being bombarded with Google's advertising.

Hmm, not sure. The advertising thing pays for otherwise free services, like the search engines and mail etc. This would have a very different business model, because you would (presumably) pay for the cars.

If you didn't, now THAT would be a revolution in travel!

what Google are doing is inspiring. People to part with their hard earned

Yeah as a business, how dare they!


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 12:25 pm
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Oh, and did you know that I've spent 20 yrs in car design, so please spare me the geek fest.

Are you single handed responsible for the industry's' lack of vision and progress or did you have help? 🙂


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 1:03 pm
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Is Google's plan that we buy these things or hire them (like Boris Bikes)?


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 1:09 pm
 SamB
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Jesus christ and I thought the comments on the BBC article were bad!

This can only be a good thing. Particularly for old / infirm / blind(!) folk, who can't drive - it could well end up cheaper than taxi-ing everywhere. In urban areas it'll speed up commuting times as the cars will be able to communicate with one another, and potentially reduce congestion / ownership hassles (why have one car each when you can just share one?)

Anyone saying "what are google getting out of this" - well there's the obvious PR exposure NOW, but they'll also be getting paid. THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY BY BOMBARDING YOU WITH ADS - it could just as well be a built-in cost with the car (much like, generally, you buy an OS with your new computer).


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 1:10 pm
 Solo
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[i]Yeah as a business, how dare they![/i]
Excatly, so lets not accredit google with the status of saving us all, out of the kindness of their hearts. They're after the buck, any way they can get it. Just like everyone else.

Moving on...
[i]This is a cyclingerists forum... Where, at times, the stupidity contained in some of the posts here, does give one pause for more thought.[/i]

Example:
[i]Are you single handed responsible for the industry's' lack of vision and progress or did you have help?[/i]
😆

Edit:
[i]Is Google's plan that we buy these things or hire them (like Boris Bikes)?[/i]
I'm guessing the car you get on a Sunday morning isn't going to smell too sweet.... Bit more difficult to leave puke and half eaten kebabs in the door bin of your average Boris bike. I'm thinking.


 
Posted : 28/05/2014 1:37 pm
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