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Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

techcrunch.com

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Re: Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

#81

Post by sfifs »

Ensorceled wrote: post #72
petra wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> Are cars going to be (even more) commoditised Self driving cars as a service are much better deal for the consumer. And they'll be more commoditized[1], same as taxis are, from the consumer perspective. On the other hand, building the car with the highest reliability , and the lowest cost of operation , is a hard challenge. But: if electric cars are going to win, cars may become mostly batteries on wheels, so a lo…

Sharing isn't viable. I don't want my 20 minute taxi/CaaS ride to become 30+ minutes as we drive off my route to pick up another rider (and wait for them to come downstairs, pick their way across the slush, close their umbrella, and FINALLY get in the god damn cab)

Most of people outside the 5% value cash over times. I've seen a lot of people begin to use UberPool in India who would have earlier commuted by partly open and definitely unsafe motor rickshaws. With pooling, they get an air conditioned car ride.

Re: Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

#82

Post by aianus »

Ensorceled wrote: post #72
petra wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> Are cars going to be (even more) commoditised Self driving cars as a service are much better deal for the consumer. And they'll be more commoditized[1], same as taxis are, from the consumer perspective. On the other hand, building the car with the highest reliability , and the lowest cost of operation , is a hard challenge. But: if electric cars are going to win, cars may become mostly batteries on wheels, so a lo…

Sharing isn't viable. I don't want my 20 minute taxi/CaaS ride to become 30+ minutes as we drive off my route to pick up another rider (and wait for them to come downstairs, pick their way across the slush, close their umbrella, and FINALLY get in the god damn cab)

> Sharing isn't viable. I don't want my 20 minute taxi/CaaS ride to become 30+ minutes as we drive off my route to pick up another rider

I drive for Uber part time and the majority of riders do choose the POOL option so I think you're wrong here.

Re: Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

#83

Post by Ensorceled »

AlexC04 wrote: post #77
Ensorceled wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sharing isn't viable. I don't want my 20 minute taxi/CaaS ride to become 30+ minutes as we drive off my route to pick up another rider (and wait for them to come downstairs, pick their way across the slush, close their umbrella, and FINALLY get in the god damn cab)

Though, with a self driving car sharing would not necessarily mean you both need to use it at the same time. The car could pick you up, drive your 20 minutes, then drive to the other person on its own and drive their 20 minutes. "Serial sharing" not "parallel"

> someone would have to build cars that are both shareable, but offer privacy for each of the passengers

The type of sharing you are writing about is not what the comment I was replying to was writing about.

I agree FWIW and I think you'll see CaaS co-operatives start up.

Re: Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

#84

Post by _r_o_y_ »

fwn wrote: post #78
ryanbrunner wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's handled by the ecosystem the manufacturers created though, and the manufacturers play a very prominent role in maintaining that ecosystem.

This, however, is something Google could trigger themselves as well. ...probably by cooperating with current producers.

Yes, but as OP pointed out, it's not in googles DNA to do such a thing.

Re: Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

#85

Post by Ensorceled »

aianus wrote: post #82
Ensorceled wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sharing isn't viable. I don't want my 20 minute taxi/CaaS ride to become 30+ minutes as we drive off my route to pick up another rider (and wait for them to come downstairs, pick their way across the slush, close their umbrella, and FINALLY get in the god damn cab)

> Sharing isn't viable. I don't want my 20 minute taxi/CaaS ride to become 30+ minutes as we drive off my route to pick up another rider I drive for Uber part time and the majority of riders do choose the POOL option so I think you're wrong here.

Uber says Pool is at 20+% of the rides. Huh, I stand partially corrected!

Re: Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

#86

Post by untog »

Ensorceled wrote: post #72
petra wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> Are cars going to be (even more) commoditised Self driving cars as a service are much better deal for the consumer. And they'll be more commoditized[1], same as taxis are, from the consumer perspective. On the other hand, building the car with the highest reliability , and the lowest cost of operation , is a hard challenge. But: if electric cars are going to win, cars may become mostly batteries on wheels, so a lo…

Sharing isn't viable. I don't want my 20 minute taxi/CaaS ride to become 30+ minutes as we drive off my route to pick up another rider (and wait for them to come downstairs, pick their way across the slush, close their umbrella, and FINALLY get in the god damn cab)

I think it depends where you live. In a dense city like New York existing pool services work very well indeed - the diversion to pick up is usually brief, and the savings considerable.

Re: Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

#87

Post by johnward »

RealityVoid wrote: post #41
spiderfarmer wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would be different if they already had an attractive car on the road, but they haven't. Just look at how much time and money it takes for Tesla to create a profitable vehicle for the masses. The R&D costs for autonomous driving are small in comparison. If comma.ai can (sort of) create an autonomous vehicle with just a couple of employees and Tesla can go fully autonomous with a sensor suite that's 5% of the cost o…

The technology Google uses is about to become way cheaper. I may be wrong, but from what I've read about the development of LIDAR systems, I estimate the prices will drop in the next few years. I think we're at a similar point where we were a couple of years ago with accelerometers and gyros, before MEMS became commonplace. Even if I am wrong and the tech breakthrough will not happen, I think the economies of scale t…

Tesla approach led to real world usage. I tend to think Google started with the wrong approach.

Re: Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

#88

Post by sharemywin »

spiderfarmer wrote: post #38
lambdasquirrel wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, given how deep its pockets are and its past propensity to try on big projects, I'd say it was surprising. What's more surprising is that both Apple and Google seem to have ended up in this same place.

It would be different if they already had an attractive car on the road, but they haven't. Just look at how much time and money it takes for Tesla to create a profitable vehicle for the masses. The R&D costs for autonomous driving are small in comparison. If comma.ai can (sort of) create an autonomous vehicle with just a couple of employees and Tesla can go fully autonomous with a sensor suite that's 5% of the cost o…

Also, how do you manage supply chain costs?

Re: Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

#89

Post by deskamess »

throwaway40483 wrote: post #11

I'm wondering what this pivot will do the morale in the Chauffeur team. There has been so much turbulence in the team with several key members leaving to form their own company because they were so frustrated with the pace. I can't imagine partnering with a traditional automaker will increase the pace.

I think this is the Android playbook. Partner with phone/car manufacturers and let them do what they do. You got to worry about customizations/fragmentation but I am not sure if that is going to be an issue for a 'behind the scenes' technology. You got to somehow tie this into Android Auto (license this?) for an integrated environment and integrations with phones or onboard maps (to get the search dollars).

Re: Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

#90

Post by netsharc »

dx034 wrote: post #34
emdowling wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Simple: everyone is looking for the next big platform. The smartphone revolution came by surprise to most and it has taken years for companies to catch up. Everyone is racing because they don't want to be caught with their pants down again.

Exactly that. If one company (especially one with high production capacity) would now release a fully functional self driving car, they could dominate the car market for the next decade. Orders for trucks, delivery vehicles, uber etc would alone max out production for several years. If done by a major player (e.g. Toyota, GM, VW), they could probably get legislation in some states changed quickly if they can proof th…

So if Google has this tech, isn't this move basically saying "Hey boys, I've got this sexy stuff. Who's going to be the highest bidder?".

Is there still a no politics policy on HN?

-- POLITICS BELOW-- Also it'd be interesting to see in the Age of Trump if Google would be red-taped if tries to sell the tech overseas, Trump would probably solicit bribes from the Detroit people to put up such a law.

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