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Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

nytimes.com

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Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#151

Post by eru »

agumonkey wrote: post #145
reneherse wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was thinking of a similar possible problem during my commute this morning, not with automated driving but with automatic equipment and systems in general. Does convenience breed mental laziness and/or decay? In our increasingly automated and comfortable existence, what experiences confront us with the need for high focus and alertness, or systematic problem solving? (Speaking of humans in general, not just engineer…

There was an article about crash statistics on roads that used to be surrounded by tree lanes [1]. There were as many accidents with or without the trees. Removing the trees avoids the opportunities to crash into them, so now people drive faster and carelessly. I also think stress, in healthy dose, is necessary. I'd bet heavy on decay as a result of removing it. Until the potential self-driving car future where peopl…

Same number of crashes, but people can drive faster? That's a win in my book.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#152

Post by mblakele »

lucaspiller wrote: post #149
Retric wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Currently, most offices only need face time ~10-4 most days, but if your driving your out of touch with coworkers in normal business hours which is a hard sell. So often people only get to miss one of those segments either the show up ~10 most days or leave by 4pm most days but not both. Or, they might miss 1-3 days a week depending on meetings etc. Now, suppose your self driving car let's you work while in the car.…

How much does a driver cost in the US? For well paid tech workers I'm wondering if it would be worth it to have a driver rather than spending X hours driving themselves.

I thought http://ideas.4brad.com/uber-price-la-approaches-robocar-chea... was interesting in that light. In short: as the cost of a ride approaches the cost of operating a privately-owned vehicle, it approximates owning a driverless car.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#153

Post by n_blom »

It's not likely that this "autopilot mode" is close to the state of the art. See for example what kind of technique Audi has put into their prototype A7:

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1029470_autonomous-audi-a...

I can't believe Tesla has all these sensor already build in.

Plus Audi, Mercedes, etc. have all enormous experience in vehicle dynamics, which is critical in handeling automatic reactions like full braking and sudden fast steering at higher speeds.

The critical part is what does so car do if it requests driver interaction but the driver does not response. Brake? On a highway?

Autopilot will come, but not in the three month. That's just hilarious.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#154

Post by hansy »

pbreit wrote: post #113
derefr wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"He" doesn't frequently get there. The engineers get there. Or they don't. If they don't, whose fault do you imagine it is?

You do realize that he co-founded and is running both a successful electric car company and a successful rocket company? And before that co-founded an insanely successful payments company?

And a solar energy company. Well technically he helped his cousins start it and serves as the company's Chairman[0].

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolarCity

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#157

Post by [deleted] »

agumonkey wrote: post #145
reneherse wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was thinking of a similar possible problem during my commute this morning, not with automated driving but with automatic equipment and systems in general. Does convenience breed mental laziness and/or decay? In our increasingly automated and comfortable existence, what experiences confront us with the need for high focus and alertness, or systematic problem solving? (Speaking of humans in general, not just engineer…

There was an article about crash statistics on roads that used to be surrounded by tree lanes [1]. There were as many accidents with or without the trees. Removing the trees avoids the opportunities to crash into them, so now people drive faster and carelessly. I also think stress, in healthy dose, is necessary. I'd bet heavy on decay as a result of removing it. Until the potential self-driving car future where peopl…

[deleted]

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#158

Post by ForHackernews »

declan wrote: post #106
ForHackernews wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, the cars are insanely expensive already. I think they're priced to include plenty.

Teslas are in line with other luxury sedans (of course you may view all of those are insanely expensive). The 60 starts at $64K, cash price counting tax credits, and the P85 is $96K. Compare that with the starting prices of the BMW 5-series, $50K (base) to $94K (M5). The Porsche Panamera is $78K to $180K starting price. The Model S has been tested against the Mercedes S550, which starts at $94K. If you look at the pe…

> of course you may view all of those are insanely expensive

Maybe I'm just cheap, but I do think those are all insanely expensive. Even $64k is more than twice the median annual income in the US, and $78-180k will buy you a decent house in most places that aren't SF/LA/DC/NY.

I can't imagine ever wanting to spend that much money on a depreciating asset that's only major benefit over a $10k Honda Civic is as a status symbol.

I do hope that Tesla succeeds in eventually creating affordable, mass-market electric cars, but it's hard for me to get that excited by their current lineup which serves mainly to help rich dudes feel smug about helping the environment.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#159

Post by declan »

rsync wrote: post #148
declan wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Teslas are in line with other luxury sedans (of course you may view all of those are insanely expensive). The 60 starts at $64K, cash price counting tax credits, and the P85 is $96K. Compare that with the starting prices of the BMW 5-series, $50K (base) to $94K (M5). The Porsche Panamera is $78K to $180K starting price. The Model S has been tested against the Mercedes S550, which starts at $94K. If you look at the pe…

Tesla performance is astounding - better than many cars that are $250k and more. Tesla interior/luxury/comfort is astonishingly low. All mid-ranged luxury cars (A6, 5-Series, E-class, etc.) are much, much nicer cars to drive in, and many of the lower end (3 series, C class) have nicer interiors as well.

On the performance point, you're quite right on 0-60 speeds. Electric motors, all-wheel drive, and smart launch control will give you excellent times.

On a track, though, where weight and handling matter so much, I wonder what the performance would be. The Tesla Model S (Performance Model) and the Tesla Roadster have essentially the same lap time around Laguna Seca as a humble VW Golf and Ford Focus -- and all four are comfortably beaten by a $30K Subaru WRX STi. Source: http://my.teslamotors.com/forum/forums/model-s-laguna-seca-l...

Now that was likely not the P85D, but that model's extra performance will be offset by the extra 300lbs and curb weight of approximately 5000(!) lbs. It may be helped by a more even front/rear weight distribution and AWD. (I admit I've spent the last three days on the track at Laguna Seca, so I may be overly fixated on lap times...)

This is not to take away from Tesla's remarkable accomplishments in such a short time. The P85D is an amazing car.

Re: Elon Musk: Tesla cars will have “autopilot mode” by summer

#160

Post by pbreit »

hansy wrote: post #154
pbreit wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You do realize that he co-founded and is running both a successful electric car company and a successful rocket company? And before that co-founded an insanely successful payments company?

And a solar energy company. Well technically he helped his cousins start it and serves as the company's Chairman[0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolarCity

And Zip2. He's at least 4 for 4 and maybe 5 for 5. And these aren't little web sites or mobile apps. Payments ($1.5b), automobiles ($25b), rockets ($10b), solar power ($5b).
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