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Just press go: designing a self-driving vehicle

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Re: Just press go: designing a self-driving vehicle

#181

Post by masklinn »

rollthehard6 wrote: post #154

Personally, I find it disappointing that this is perpetuating the inherent inefficiencies of the car concept, carrying a small number of people, usually a single person. The ultimate end game where cities are full of autonomous taxi vehicles that aren't owned, but paid for by usage makes sense though. You fire up an app / web link or SMS and a car appears within 5 minutes, drops off someone else and takes you on your…

> Personally, I find it disappointing that this is perpetuating the inherent inefficiencies of the car concept, carrying a small number of people, usually a single person.

"Self-driving" systems for carrying big numbers of people have existed for centuries now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport

Re: Just press go: designing a self-driving vehicle

#182

Post by masklinn »

jacquesm wrote: post #159
papaf wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There have been self-driving trains for some time now (Nuremberg, London Docklands). There are more people to be responsible for on a train and I do not see why a bus would be a special case.

Trainstations are somewhat controlled, bus-stops are not, they can be just about anywhere.

Which is relevant to the difficulty of designing a self-driving bus, but says nothing about any driver responsibilities outside of driving.

Re: Just press go: designing a self-driving vehicle

#184

Post by pkorzeniewski »

abc123xyz wrote: post #183

Am I the only who actually enjoys driving (good cars)?

Finally someone! I thought I'm the only one here who loves driving.. Some people go as far as suggesting that manual cars will be banned at some point in the future - to be honest it sounds like some kind of dystopian vision where you have no control over anything.

Re: Just press go: designing a self-driving vehicle

#185

Post by voicereasonish »

FireBeyond wrote: post #46
jpatokal wrote: post #4

Given that they're capped at 25 mph, these are legally "low-speed vehicles", not cars, which means they're way less regulated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-speed_vehicle

I think, too, that there's a logical disconnect between "we focused on learning, not luxury", and "we want to hear about what you want in a vehicle where you sit back and enjoy the ride" (probably, to most, -not- a dearth of comforts).

Lets be clear here. The aim here is to let you sit back, browse the web, and click on Google ads.

Re: Just press go: designing a self-driving vehicle

#186

Post by arrrg »

psychotik wrote: post #102
SoftwareMaven wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People want to know where they are going. Very few, if any, people would be happy looking at where they've been. The dash is most likely two-fold: they have to cover up what's behind the dash and they need a place to put things like air bags. Finally, if I was designing this, I'd want it to feel enough like a car that people fully recognize all the ways it's not a normal car to increase their excitement about it. Jus…

Ever sat backwards on a train? Or first class in a plane? It doesn't matter if you're not driving.

As was already said, some people get sick. Also, many more people prefer to be facing forward on a train. I know I personally do. Sure, I can handle facing backward with no problems, but I just prefer facing forward.

Re: Just press go: designing a self-driving vehicle

#187

Post by whyleym »

The biggest problem I see here is that if all cars on the road were self driving then you have more control. The issue is when you mix human behaviour and error into the mix. The first fatal or near fatal accident with self driving cars could be the end before it's even started.

Re: Just press go: designing a self-driving vehicle

#189

Post by DanBC »

arrrg wrote: post #186
psychotik wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ever sat backwards on a train? Or first class in a plane? It doesn't matter if you're not driving.

As was already said, some people get sick. Also, many more people prefer to be facing forward on a train. I know I personally do. Sure, I can handle facing backward with no problems, but I just prefer facing forward.

I much prefer facing backwards, because I know in the rare case of crash that I am going to be much safer.

This is also true of aircraft and cars and buses and coaches. Sadly, most people do feel uncomfortable facing backwards and so the risky forwards-facing seating is used.

Re: Just press go: designing a self-driving vehicle

#190

Post by k-mcgrady »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #157
sown wrote: post #43

It seems like they would eventually have a four-seater version but the bench seats could face each other. What a simple thing but so different. Maybe like suicide-doors used to be common in the US but they're such a novelty now.

>> "It seems like they would eventually have a four-seater version but the bench seats could face each other." I can think of two reasons against that. 1. People who get motion sickness get it 100x worse if they are facing the wrong way. There are also people I know who normally don't get motion sickness but get a bit queasy facing the wrong way. 2. If you are in an accident isn't it more dangerous for your neck if y…

To the person that down voted me: why? I believe I made two good points that add to the discussion. Down voting should be used on comments that do not add to the discussion, not just comments you disagree with. If you disagree with a comment ignore it and move on or reply.

Side note: What has happened to edit buttons on HN? This is the second time I've had a comment I'd like add an update to and the edit button isn't available.

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