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Why Google Made Its Self-Driving Car So Darn Cute

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Re: Why Google Made Its Self-Driving Car So Darn Cute

#71

Post by swombat »

drb311 wrote: post #57
pbhjpbhj wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A future with self-driving cars makes more sense if all cars are taxis (of some form). Why leave your car stationary overnight (except perhaps to charge) when it can be out driving people around and earning money? I'd like to see a system where one could purchase a guarantee that you'd get a car of a particular class to take you where you need to go within a given time (shorter time, higher cost; if you decide you ca…

Book a car in advance? Stone age! Google Now will figure out where you need to be, and have a car waiting for you when you open the door.

Google Tomorrow will figure out what you needed to do at the remote location, do it for you, and avoid the need for a trip altogether.

Google The Day After Tomorrow gets rid of the need for you to exist at all!

Re: Why Google Made Its Self-Driving Car So Darn Cute

#72

Post by superJoy »

Theodores wrote: post #21
jacquesm wrote: post #8

What is the ANCAP rating for these? Cute they might be but they look to be quite flimsy in construction. Maybe that's one of the reasons why they are so slow, not just to avoid the risks of high speed impact but also so that they don't have to be tested right alongside the output of the rest of the automobile industry. That gives google time to perfect the software in a real world traffic without all the costs and co…

I doubt they have done the ANCAP/NCAP ratings (given the recent story about how lots of AUDI models are not NCAP rated it could be a while). There is a tubular 'roll cage' type of thing going on with it, reminiscent of rally cars and kit cars. Given that rally cars have roll cages and normal cars do not, I for one look on a roll cage as a good thing, even if the rest of the box is prototype bits of plastic. Part of a…

It has a tubular cage like that because space frames are about the easiest way to build the primary structure for a one-off or low production vehicle.

It's not a particularly safe way to build a car for passengers without helmets. There's no padding on the cage either. Every race series that requires cages also requires helmets and padding.

Re: Why Google Made Its Self-Driving Car So Darn Cute

#73

Post by Nevermark »

swombat wrote: post #70
ghshephard wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another key thing about cars - microsecond response as opposed to millisecond response. There are a number of (but not all) situations where that 1000x reduced latency will make a difference between a collision and a miss. More importantly, the automated car will be able to scan 360 degrees for endless amounts of time with that same microsecond response. The tipping point for automated cars is going to happen faster…

Don't get me wrong - I totally support self-driving cars and I will - once the technology is cooked enough - feel much safer in those than in normal cars... well, as long as we get all the other non-self-driving idiots off the roads, of course. I was just responding to the parent of my reply that yes, I do "ghost-brake", and so yes, efforts to make the car appear safer are a great idea, that will impact more people t…

Self-driving cars will have reflexes and driving skills so great that they will be able to navigate complex obstructions and other machine driven traffic using nanosecond turning choices and G-forces that will leave you as jelly on the side of the car, in no capacity to do any backseat driving, and then pour you out at your destination microseconds faster.

Nothing to be anxious about it will all be over soon.

Re: Why Google Made Its Self-Driving Car So Darn Cute

#74

Post by ehurrell »

andrey-p wrote: post #33
ehurrell wrote: post #28

As my old AI lecturer put it "If a person driving a car runs over a person that driver is at fault, if an AI driving a car runs over a person that AI will probably never be used again in any car.", so it's interesting to see the 'cute' approach they are taking to, as the article says "minimize the fear".

I looked at the images and my initial gut reaction was "aww, I can't be afraid of _that_!" even if I still find the idea scary. I think it's a very successful design.

I'd agree, except that quote stuck with me!

Re: Why Google Made Its Self-Driving Car So Darn Cute

#75

Post by ehurrell »

bitJericho wrote: post #36
ehurrell wrote: post #28

As my old AI lecturer put it "If a person driving a car runs over a person that driver is at fault, if an AI driving a car runs over a person that AI will probably never be used again in any car.", so it's interesting to see the 'cute' approach they are taking to, as the article says "minimize the fear".

One software change could rule out that same accident ever happening again. You can't retrain every driver everytime an accident occurs, but you can reprogram every automated car.

Rationally yes, it's probably easy to argue that point, but his point, as a huge believer in AI applications, was that emotionally the 'killer robot cars' sentiment would break a fragile trust, as against the implicit common humanity of human drivers.

Re: Why Google Made Its Self-Driving Car So Darn Cute

#76

Post by annnnd »

roganartu wrote: post #44
annnnd wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I now realise that sitting in a self-driving car will cause me to press on the ghost brake pedal while sweating with anxiety No it won't. :) In next versions you will probably not be facing the road anyway. Do you "ghost brake" when driving in the back of a limousine?

I understand that facing backwards is safer in a head-on collision but a lot of people suffer from motion sickness (myself included). It has a lot to do with ability to see where you are going and hence predict/be aware of the vehicles movements. To put the extent of this in perspective, I am noticibly more likely to feel motion sick sitting in the back seat compared to sitting in the front seat. This effect is reduc…

I don't think safety is even an issue here - I think self-driving cars will be MUCH safer by default, so this kind of safety precautions (turning the front seats) will probably not be needed. I am thinking more in terms of travelling comfort (talking with fellow passengers, playing cards,...).

That said, I agree with your comment on motion sickness. I am guessing that there will be much research in this area - it might be possible to eliminate sickeness by properly adjusting tilt of the car through curves and when braking / accelerating. It would love to play with this, though not in a role of a tester. ;)

Re: Why Google Made Its Self-Driving Car So Darn Cute

#77

Post by annnnd »

swombat wrote: post #25
annnnd wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I now realise that sitting in a self-driving car will cause me to press on the ghost brake pedal while sweating with anxiety No it won't. :) In next versions you will probably not be facing the road anyway. Do you "ghost brake" when driving in the back of a limousine?

Do you "ghost brake" when driving in the back of a limousine? Yep. I'm frequently uncomfortable when someone else is driving. There's a handful of people in the world who don't make me uncomfortable when driving... my parents, a few friends who drive "safely"... Oh, and taxi drivers (where somehow my lizard brain appreciates that though I am not in control, the creature that IS in control has 100+ times more experien…

Just a guess here - how about "driving" in an elevator? Would you brake if you didn't see the outside and feel the movement? The glasses can be dimmed on request pretty easily...

My point was that self-driving cars change the paradigm completely. What was once necessary is now no longer so... so there are plenty of new options to explore. All in all, I am guessing it won't be (much) worse than it is now. (well, apart from privacy standpoint and similar... :)

Re: Why Google Made Its Self-Driving Car So Darn Cute

#78

Post by bitJericho »

ehurrell wrote: post #75
bitJericho wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One software change could rule out that same accident ever happening again. You can't retrain every driver everytime an accident occurs, but you can reprogram every automated car.

Rationally yes, it's probably easy to argue that point, but his point, as a huge believer in AI applications, was that emotionally the 'killer robot cars' sentiment would break a fragile trust, as against the implicit common humanity of human drivers.

I realize this, but I disagree with the conclusion. I think just like today we have scarred individuals that refuse to drive, ride, or even take left turns, the same thing will happen with AI cars. Some people won't use them, but vast majority will realize we're better off, or at least feel that way. Some say we may be better off going back to the forests, and I don't know if I disagree with that some days!

Re: Why Google Made Its Self-Driving Car So Darn Cute

#79

Post by ehurrell »

bitJericho wrote: post #78
ehurrell wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rationally yes, it's probably easy to argue that point, but his point, as a huge believer in AI applications, was that emotionally the 'killer robot cars' sentiment would break a fragile trust, as against the implicit common humanity of human drivers.

I realize this, but I disagree with the conclusion. I think just like today we have scarred individuals that refuse to drive, ride, or even take left turns, the same thing will happen with AI cars. Some people won't use them, but vast majority will realize we're better off, or at least feel that way. Some say we may be better off going back to the forests, and I don't know if I disagree with that some days!

I can understand your point, but I think the biggest differentiating factor when it comes to AI is that for maybe the last 20-30 years the biggest cultural touchpoint for the term 'AI' was the concept of 'it going nuts and taking over the world, enslaving/killing humanity', so I expect that to play into the public perception a little bit. It could be as simple as 'AI has a brand problem Google are working on solving', once that's been eroded in some way I'd essentially agree with you, I just think it's a looming perception issue.

Re: Why Google Made Its Self-Driving Car So Darn Cute

#80

Post by drb311 »

swombat wrote: post #71
drb311 wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Book a car in advance? Stone age! Google Now will figure out where you need to be, and have a car waiting for you when you open the door.

Google Tomorrow will figure out what you needed to do at the remote location, do it for you, and avoid the need for a trip altogether. Google The Day After Tomorrow gets rid of the need for you to exist at all!

It'll still want me to sit at home looking at ads. If it wants to do everything else for me I'm OK with that.
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