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Volvo’s first self-driving cars now being tested live on public roads in Sweden

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Re: Volvo’s first self-driving cars now being tested live on public roads in Sweden

#5
“The test cars are now able to handle lane following, speed adaption, and merging traffic all by themselves,”

This is an important step, although I must say they appear to be far behind Google. My money is on Google getting to an acceptable deployment phase far earlier.

Re: Volvo’s first self-driving cars now being tested live on public roads in Sweden

#6
post #4

Volvo have stopped selling manual transmission ("stick") cars in North America. They have lost me as a customer.

If you dislike automatic transition I guess you'll not like self driving cars.

I was quite a fan of the manual transmission, but I got an automatic car for the first time now (Mercedes A-class), and it's just so good at shifting that I never even consider it any more. I think of the transmission as another part of the driving experience to automate away now, like turning lights and parking brakes on and off.

Re: Volvo’s first self-driving cars now being tested live on public roads in Sweden

#7
post #3

No rotating laser dome on the roof?

LIDAR does not work in rain, on wet roads or in the snow.

Google car drives only in good weather in California for a reason. In Sweden they could drive maybe a week in a year.

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    de mesta regnar bort ..

Re: Volvo’s first self-driving cars now being tested live on public roads in Sweden

#9
post #5

“The test cars are now able to handle lane following, speed adaption, and merging traffic all by themselves,” This is an important step, although I must say they appear to be far behind Google. My money is on Google getting to an acceptable deployment phase far earlier.

Given the driving conditions in Sweden and the years of experience Volvo has as a car company, I would bet they will be able to deploy and all weather version before Google.

Re: Volvo’s first self-driving cars now being tested live on public roads in Sweden

#10
post #6
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you dislike automatic transition I guess you'll not like self driving cars.

I was quite a fan of the manual transmission, but I got an automatic car for the first time now (Mercedes A-class), and it's just so good at shifting that I never even consider it any more. I think of the transmission as another part of the driving experience to automate away now, like turning lights and parking brakes on and off.

There is difference with automatic gearbox (planetary gearbox) and DCT gearbox which is much closer to the manual IIRC.
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