Nevada passes law authorizing driverless cars • Hacker News Board

Re: Nevada passes law authorizing driverless cars

#81

Post by alanh » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 6:13 PM UTC

We expect people to be frightened of robotic cars for the same reason they are scared of dying in a plane crash: Some deep-seated fear of dying in a manner that isn’t our own fault. Thoughts:

1) Marketing/PR for autonomous vehicles needs to really drive home their safety, so when you hear “robot car,” you think “… saves lives.”

2) Is it hard to imagine the opposite fear in children born 10 years from now? Having seen mostly robotic cars in real life, and human-driven cars getting in accidents on TV and in movies, might the child of the future react with terror when the robotic chauffeur intones, “human driver detected, approaching from rear”?

Re: Nevada passes law authorizing driverless cars

#82

Post by pavel_lishin » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 6:13 PM UTC

xcallemjudasx wrote: post #63

pavel_lishin wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do a lot of people avoid public transport just because of the lack of personal space?

Personally I avoid it because it's not very reliable(in Houston at least. It was pretty reliable in Germany) and it's not that effective at getting me where I want to go. There's still huge sprawls of land that are actively used but not connected to the public transport routes.

I'm originally from Dallas; pubtrans there is a joke.

Re: Nevada passes law authorizing driverless cars

#83

Post by Cushman » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 6:16 PM UTC

spoold wrote: post #52

Cushman wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The de facto standard in this country is one dedicated car per person, which spends 90% of its time sitting in a parking space. Communally shared cars will be massively more efficient than that, and, unlike buses and trains, will actually replace dedicated vehicles for a majority — some day 100% — of users. The public transportation the public uses beats the one they don't. Not to mention that communal vehicles would…

"The de facto standard in this country" Which country? It's a global problem (and this is a global forum). Kudos to Nevada for having the presence and foresight to pass this legislation. It opens up a world of possibilities for future transport options, and whilst it will take a while for the public to catch up and accept both the technology, and the transport changes it enables, this is a huge step in the right dire…

What country is Nevada in?

I'm not blind to the existence of transportation issues in other countries, but insufficient (read "nonexistent") public transportation is often noted as a predominantly (while not uniquely) American problem. Certainly we represent the archetype of the "one car per person" catastrophe.

The emergence of communal, computer-controlled electric vehicles could turn that around completely, so I don't think it's too out of line to be talking primarily about America at this stage.

Re: Nevada passes law authorizing driverless cars

#84

Post by phlux » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 6:19 PM UTC

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #18

phlux wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Prostitution, Gambling, 24-hour alcohol sales, Driverless cars, rentable fully automatic weapons! Come to Nevada, we are the FUTURE! EDIT: I was not actually bemoaning any of these, uh, services. I lived in Nevada for a few years and aside from the fact that I was traumatized against it by the game Fallout - actually like Nevada. It is one of those states that actually fantastic to live in if you have enough money/yo…

No drive-thru beer vendors like Texas?

There used to be a drive thru liquor store in Reno on the corner of Keystone and 4th street - but they closed the drive-thru window ~1990

Re: Nevada passes law authorizing driverless cars

#85

Post by darrennix » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 6:21 PM UTC

I believe one of the most overlooked benefits of driverless cars is that it makes small-engine, low acceleration (high efficiency) cars acceptable for the American market. Most Americans are currently unwilling to drive a 1 liter engine car because of its no fun to drive, but if you are lounging in the back seat you won't care.

Re: Nevada passes law authorizing driverless cars

#86

Post by arkitaip » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 6:21 PM UTC

alanh wrote: post #81

We expect people to be frightened of robotic cars for the same reason they are scared of dying in a plane crash: Some deep-seated fear of dying in a manner that isn’t our own fault. Thoughts: 1) Marketing/PR for autonomous vehicles needs to really drive home their safety, so when you hear “robot car,” you think “… saves lives.” 2) Is it hard to imagine the opposite fear in children born 10 years from now? Having seen…

Unfortunately Google is incredibly bad at sales and marketing so don't expect them to understand that their main challenge will be the public perception of driverless cars.

Re: Nevada passes law authorizing driverless cars

#87

Post by Hawramani » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 6:21 PM UTC

cheez wrote: post #50

Hawramani wrote: post #45

[Survey question] What are Google's options for monetizing driverless cars?

If it's not obvious to you... People will pay for it.

My question was more like a survey. I was wondering what people on here thought were Google's options. [I have edited my question now]

Re: Nevada passes law authorizing driverless cars

#88

Post by smhinsey » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 6:22 PM UTC

mkr-hn wrote: post #6

I think driverless cars could be the future of public transportation. Instead of big trains and buses with limited reach, we would have thousands of public vehicles that take you where you need to go when you need to be there. It eliminates the big barriers to public transport--the lack of personal space, timing, and reach. No car? Just hop on the municipal/county dispatch website, request a car, pay your fee, and wa…

I think it's only a matter of time (maybe 10-20 years, who knows) until one of the larger urban areas with huge traffic problems, such as Manhattan, London or Beijing mandates these sorts of systems in congested areas. It really seems like it could be the only viable solution to traffic problems in cities whose roads just can't handle the loads, and it seems like a logical next step after congestion pricing like London already does.

Re: Nevada passes law authorizing driverless cars

#89

Post by stevenp » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 6:22 PM UTC

This means there's going to be a market for in-car bar equipment! Someone is going to make millions on DC-powered blenders and cup holders that can safely accomodate cocktail shakers. :)

Re: Nevada passes law authorizing driverless cars

#90

Post by melling » Thu, Jun 23, 2011, 6:26 PM UTC

alanh wrote: post #81

We expect people to be frightened of robotic cars for the same reason they are scared of dying in a plane crash: Some deep-seated fear of dying in a manner that isn’t our own fault. Thoughts: 1) Marketing/PR for autonomous vehicles needs to really drive home their safety, so when you hear “robot car,” you think “… saves lives.” 2) Is it hard to imagine the opposite fear in children born 10 years from now? Having seen…

I think you've got the reason people are afraid of flying wrong. People aren't afraid of dying in a bus crash, or on a train, even an automated one, like they are of flying.