Uber’s First Self-Driving Fleet Arrives in Pittsburgh This Month

Post by what_ever » Thu, Aug 18, 2016, 5:00 PM UTC

bsilvereagle wrote: post #73

stenius wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What makes this stop sign a challenge?

In most places, when you merge onto a highway you have a ramp of decent length with a yield sign. You are able to get up to speed and merge safely. In this particular spot, the end of your on-ramp has a stop sign. So, you're sitting at a dead stop with 65+ mph traffic 10 ft in front of you. Things get even more complicated since you're merging into an exit ramp. You have approximately 1/4 mile of road to merge into t…

Post by falafel_muncher » Thu, Aug 18, 2016, 5:03 PM UTC

stale2002 wrote: post #143

kalleboo wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed but the context here are all the futuristic predictions starting with mass-unemployment of taxi and truck drivers (indeed that's what Uber is selling their market valuation on). If drivers are still needed 60% of the time, they're going nowhere. The hype right now is so great that even if the reality is amazing it will be disappointing.

The disruptive effects still happen even if we don't get to 100%. For example, a train of self driving trucks can be led by 1 in the front. Yes, I know, REAL trains exist, but they don't go everywhere. A train of self driving trucks could save a lot of money. If self driving Taxis don't work in the rain, then Uber can just NOT drive them when it is raining! For example, Maybe the penetration rate will be very low in…

Post by falafel_muncher » Thu, Aug 18, 2016, 5:09 PM UTC

nkoren wrote: post #112

losteverything wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"As a person within the industry" has there been any talk about the paths driverless will take? New roadways? Attendant-less roadways? Change in existing designation of highways? How to accomodate 10-20 people (vehicles won't look like they do now)? I envision future photos-videos of driver and driver less "vehicles" at a busy intersection just like horses and early cars.

These are the right questions to be asking! Yes, there has been some talk -- but not remotely enough. At present, the vast majority of work in the vehicle-automation space is being done by, well, vehicle people. The assumption is that driverless vehicles will slot into the existing infrastructure with minimal modification. There's a fair amount of consideration being given to vehicle-to-infrastructure communications…

Post by dexterdog » Thu, Aug 18, 2016, 5:28 PM UTC

pythia__ wrote: post #17

sbarre wrote: post #7

I wonder how Uber drivers feel about working for a company that is actively trying to make them obsolete. Not passing judgement or anything, just kind of a strange thing to contemplate.. Uber kept saying they were disrupting the taxi industry by letting more people participate when really in the end they're trying to remove the people from the equation altogether.

People may yet make a comeback as a premium service since they can do things that self-driving cars can't like help a passenger carry bags.

Post by antisthenes » Thu, Aug 18, 2016, 5:37 PM UTC

perseusprime11 wrote: post #10

sbarre wrote: post #7

I wonder how Uber drivers feel about working for a company that is actively trying to make them obsolete. Not passing judgement or anything, just kind of a strange thing to contemplate.. Uber kept saying they were disrupting the taxi industry by letting more people participate when really in the end they're trying to remove the people from the equation altogether.

I always talk to the drivers about their feelings and so on when taking Uber. Maybe my data is skewed but most accept it as inevitable and are not worried much as they have other side jobs. The cab drivers are the ones who must be anxious. It will be really bad if they cannot be retrained for other jobs as it will add to the existing frustration around automation. We simply cannot afford to leave people out as we mov…