Honda's $20k Civic LX now offers self-driving capability for highway use

Post by vvanders » Mon, Mar 14, 2016, 10:24 PM UTC

MBCook wrote: post #192

Animats wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Restarting from a full stop requires good pedestrian awareness. In city traffic, there might be people crossing in front of the car when it's stopped. Restart also requires getting the driver back on line. They're probably on a phone. That's why some driver input to start motion is desirable. The user interface problems for automatic driving are very tough.

I think that with cars that offer 'full stop' cruise control the driver must press a button to indicate that they're ready to roll again after the car has stopped it's self (or perhaps tap the gas). Not positive, that what I remember hearing. That way it's still the driver's responsibility, but it's easy enough that it doesn't annoy the driver.

Post by djrogers » Mon, Mar 14, 2016, 10:27 PM UTC

fudged71 wrote: post #152

BrandonY wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also really enjoy my Subaru EyeSight. I've only run into one terrible experience, and that is when I went into a automated car wash. As soon as the first big scrubby thing approached, the EyeSight flipped out and slammed on the brake, which was jolting and scary. Kind of obvious looking back on it, of course, and now I remember to turn it off when I wash my car.

You're supposed to turn off your car when you're in a car wash, so I'm not exactly sure that this was the car's fault :)

Post by rcthompson » Mon, Mar 14, 2016, 10:33 PM UTC

vonmoltke wrote: post #85

turtlebits wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Once cars are autonomous, it makes it drastically simpler to carpool/rideshare or even pick up and drop off riders that may share the same or partial route as you. Also if your car is able to drop you off, it can be a shared resource when you don't need it.

I want to reply to all three of you (turtlebits, maxerickson, teod) with basically the same points. I'll put it here because yours is currently the top-ranked reply, but I am going to address all three of you. > Once cars are autonomous, it makes it drastically simpler to carpool/rideshare or even pick up and drop off riders that may share the same or partial route as you. I don't see how it is drastically simpler. Y…

Post by vvanders » Mon, Mar 14, 2016, 10:39 PM UTC

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #206

vvanders wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh man, all this. I thought Autopilot was nifty but it wasn't until I slogged through ~40 minutes of rush hour without touching the pedals or wheel when I realized how awesome it really was. It's useful at-speed but the killer app really is rush hour traffic.

I thought Autopilot was nifty but it wasn't until I slogged through ~40 minutes of rush hour without touching the pedals or wheel when I realized how awesome it really was. Which car can do this?

Post by kazinator » Mon, Mar 14, 2016, 10:46 PM UTC

superuser2 wrote: post #169

kazinator wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's the competitive reality of driving in congested, urban areas. Drivers who cut in can save a lot of time over the course of a commute. They disrupt traffic flows and delay everyone else. So efficient traffic flows have to be defended. > Surely all drivers have to change lanes at some point to get where they're going; Yes, and some drivers like, for instance, to pass around 25 other cars who are making the same…

Okay, maybe we are talking about different things. Skipping a clearly identifiable line is one thing - the driver sees that they could just get in line and decides not to. I am more interested in why you would actively avoid making space when there is no clear way to get into the lane except by finding an open space.