Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Google has reportedly stopped developing its own self-driving car

techcrunch.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

121–130 of 232 posts

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

#121

Post by ch4s3 »

ajmurmann wrote: post #119
kriro wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if a fully automated car might actually be a different product category than a "regular" car. I could actually see a decent market for (relatively ugly) self driving cars that are mostly seen as a means to get from A to B. In fact I'm not sure if the ownership model is right for this category. I could see renting/leasing these vehicles on a monthly base as a service and the competition being buying a monthly…

I can see that during a relatively short transition period but hope it won't remain that way. Once all cars are autonomous we can do incredible things. For example traffic lights to regulate traffic between cars will be obsolete. Cars can just adjust their speed way before the intersection so that they just miss each other at the intersection. Likewise we can avoid congestion by cars registering for their route in ad…

Sometimes stop lights are there so that people can walk across the street.

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

#122

Post by intrasight »

kriro wrote: post #44
emdowling wrote: post #19

It's fascinating to see Google and (purportedly) Apple move in a similar direction away from developing their own actual cars and instead building the software platform. It makes a lot of sense for Google, who have always struggled with selling products direct to consumers. It is more surprising for Apple, but makes sense if you look at how they can add the most value. I'm looking forward to seeing how this plays out…

I wonder if a fully automated car might actually be a different product category than a "regular" car. I could actually see a decent market for (relatively ugly) self driving cars that are mostly seen as a means to get from A to B. In fact I'm not sure if the ownership model is right for this category. I could see renting/leasing these vehicles on a monthly base as a service and the competition being buying a monthly…

>market for (relatively ugly) self driving cars that are mostly seen as a means to get from A to B.

You mean like a Volvo ;)

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

#124

Post by coredog64 »

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)

In Honiara, moderately well off people will own a car and then lease* it to a taxi driver so that it can make them money throughout the day. It works out really well if you need to get your kids to school, as the taxi driver will take them or pick them up without disrupting your work commute.

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

#125

Post by dagw »

intrasight wrote: post #122
kriro wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if a fully automated car might actually be a different product category than a "regular" car. I could actually see a decent market for (relatively ugly) self driving cars that are mostly seen as a means to get from A to B. In fact I'm not sure if the ownership model is right for this category. I could see renting/leasing these vehicles on a monthly base as a service and the competition being buying a monthly…

>market for (relatively ugly) self driving cars that are mostly seen as a means to get from A to B. You mean like a Volvo ;)

Perhaps not the prettiest car ever made, but looks OK to me: https://www.media.volvocars.com/image/low/194846/1_1/5

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

#126

Post by 0x6c6f6c »

shostack wrote: post #104
Ensorceled wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I think most people would prefer no delays and a private ride. But the savings of pooling is too large for many to ignore.

So you mean, most people absolutely do prefer no delays and a private ride, since the other ~80% of Uber riders don't do the POOL option.

The market exists for both though. It's a smart move to offer this option. It's more energy economical and fiscally responsible. There's certainly even people who have the time but not the money.

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

#127

Post by pacman128 »

ajmurmann wrote: post #119
kriro wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if a fully automated car might actually be a different product category than a "regular" car. I could actually see a decent market for (relatively ugly) self driving cars that are mostly seen as a means to get from A to B. In fact I'm not sure if the ownership model is right for this category. I could see renting/leasing these vehicles on a monthly base as a service and the competition being buying a monthly…

I can see that during a relatively short transition period but hope it won't remain that way. Once all cars are autonomous we can do incredible things. For example traffic lights to regulate traffic between cars will be obsolete. Cars can just adjust their speed way before the intersection so that they just miss each other at the intersection. Likewise we can avoid congestion by cars registering for their route in ad…

Your description of how things would work with no traffic lights would scare me to death. One errant car (mechanical failure, software bug or hacked) could cause multiple fatalities. Systems need to be resistant to disaster from perturbations like these.

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

#128

Post by blahfuk »

athenot wrote: post #116
blizkreeg wrote: post #114

I've been thinking of spending some time on an idea for a personal transport vehicle. I can imagine the safety and testing regulations being onerous and everything else that goes with making and selling any form of automobiles not for the faint of heart. Seeing as how giant cos like Apple and Google are exiting the "making" space of vehicles, is it crazy to even toy with an idea of building a vehicle that moves peopl…

Even Elon Musk admitted it was crazy to take on cars. I suppose it's one of those industries that looks simple from the outside because we're so familiar with the user side, but the manufacturing of which is surprisingly complex.

As someone who's worked for one of the big 3, the supply chain and logistics is mind-boggling. Not to mention what it takes to create factories that can put out vehicles at the rate of the big guys. I don't think Google or any other software company could compete without completely retooling their entire company. It's not something you can do as a side project.

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

#129

Post by RealityVoid »

johnward wrote: post #87
RealityVoid wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

There are other companies out there having functionality on par with Tesla, on cars, on the road. Google's capabilities are superior in almost every way. Not yet commercial, but if it gets there(very likely), it'll be a bet that pays off. They have a ton of training data and experience in the field.

All the more, I think Tesla's functionality will not lead to Level 4 autonomy within the next decade because fo a false-start approach.

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

#130

Post by baggachipz »

CM30 wrote: post #102

I don't think this is all that surprising to be honest. Google is (by and large) a software development and services company, not a car manufacturer. If they make their own autonomous vehicles, that means they then have to handle everything from safety testing to customer support and sales in addition to the self driving car technology itself. By working with existing car manufacturers, they can focus on their part o…

Yes, perhaps, but the counter to this is that they could "benefit from the closed system of vertical integration" that seems to be all the rage these days. I could envision a scenario where they partner with existing manufacturers for a couple years, then "courageously" break off and produce their own vehicle in order to "control the process".
Post reply on HN