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BMW shows off 'drifting' self-drive cars

bbc.co.uk

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Re: BMW shows off 'drifting' self-drive cars

#12
post #6
post #3

If a car company has their own self-driving technology, will they ever pay Google for theirs?

Of course, why would they? The interesting thing is the motivation. BMW want to make a better car, to sell more cars. Google want self-driving to free up driver's time to consume media, which will be covered in advertising - exactly the same as releasing Android to drive mobile Internet usage. But just as Google acquired Motorola, which automaker is in their sights? GM?

Google could be hoping to diversify away from "everything free but ad supported" as they are with things like App Engine.

They could plan to license the technology to car manufacturers for a per-car fee or subscription; along with the detailed road condition data gathered by streetview cars and android phones.

Re: BMW shows off 'drifting' self-drive cars

#13
post #6
post #3

If a car company has their own self-driving technology, will they ever pay Google for theirs?

Of course, why would they? The interesting thing is the motivation. BMW want to make a better car, to sell more cars. Google want self-driving to free up driver's time to consume media, which will be covered in advertising - exactly the same as releasing Android to drive mobile Internet usage. But just as Google acquired Motorola, which automaker is in their sights? GM?

I feel sorry for Google's shareholders if this is what they think.

Re: BMW shows off 'drifting' self-drive cars

#14

Last time I checked this was Hacker News, not Reddit, and I am getting sick of articles like this making it to the front page (as I am aware other commenters have noted). I didn't even need to click on the article (but did in a vain hope) to know that there was absolutely no information as to what they actually did from a technical perspective that deserves notice on HN. The most technological it gets is "Using 360-d…

In the time you spent venting your frustration about this, you might have been able to dig up something interesting for the conversation in here. Also, you can beat stuff like this for raising interest in technology. Case in point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsnKzK6dX8Q

Re: BMW shows off 'drifting' self-drive cars

#15
Wonder when Google will have their self-driving fleet taking people from the Las Vegas airport to their hotels during CES? It would be a great publicity stunt.

"Currently California, Florida and Nevada have licensed autonomous vehicles to be tested on their public roads, and Google's fleet of 24 robot Lexus SUVs (sports utility vehicles) have clocked up about 500,000 miles of unassisted driving so far without any reported mishaps."

Re: BMW shows off 'drifting' self-drive cars

#16
This is bad news (despite being a BMW owner)

In future driving will no longer be fun, if you want to drive "non-automated" car or disable "auto-pilot" your insurance company will automatically jack up your premium, since they would consider self driving cars "safer"

Re: BMW shows off 'drifting' self-drive cars

#17
post #16

This is bad news (despite being a BMW owner) In future driving will no longer be fun, if you want to drive "non-automated" car or disable "auto-pilot" your insurance company will automatically jack up your premium, since they would consider self driving cars "safer"

More terrible than killing someone:

Spending more money to do it.

Re: BMW shows off 'drifting' self-drive cars

#18
post #16

This is bad news (despite being a BMW owner) In future driving will no longer be fun, if you want to drive "non-automated" car or disable "auto-pilot" your insurance company will automatically jack up your premium, since they would consider self driving cars "safer"

In future driving will no longer be fun

It's funny seeing BMW try to be a forerunner in this space, after all of their "BMW: The Ultimate Driving Machine" ad campaigns. They were one of the few car makers that actually spoke of driving fun! (Or, well, driving pleasure)

Re: BMW shows off 'drifting' self-drive cars

#20
post #16

This is bad news (despite being a BMW owner) In future driving will no longer be fun, if you want to drive "non-automated" car or disable "auto-pilot" your insurance company will automatically jack up your premium, since they would consider self driving cars "safer"

Is the cost to society (in lives lost) worth the cost to individual enjoyment?
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