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Self-driving car on Moscow streets after snowfall [video]

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Re: Self-driving car on Moscow streets after snowfall [video]

#51

Post by tw04 »

I'm sorry - this isn't a "heavy snowfall" in Moscow. It's just barely a dusting. That isn't even an inch of accumulation. Being able to self-drive when there is black pavement to be seen isn't impressive in the least. Show me a self-driving car functioning in white-out conditions (which is what Moscow faces on a regular basis, as does a large portion of the US) and I'll be impressed.

This: http://bgr.com/2018/02/06/moscow-snow-russia-winter-storm/

Is what it looked like ~two weeks ago. Show me your self-driving car in THAT.

Re: Self-driving car on Moscow streets after snowfall [video]

#52

Post by adventured »

bmer wrote: post #20

Anyone else find it strange how still the one hand in view is? It never moves...

It moves at 17 seconds in, at 44 seconds in, 1 min 51 seconds in, etc. I'm guessing the driver was intentionally holding his hand there with effort, ready to grab control of the wheel if necessary.

Re: Self-driving car on Moscow streets after snowfall [video]

#54

Post by TheSpiceIsLife »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #35
emmelaich wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not only that, but the contrast between road and non-road is even clearer with the snow. Which may make the auto driving easier.

The main challenge here for cars to overcome is that many, like Google's, are heavily based on centimeter-accurate 3D mapping data. (I am not sure where Yandex's sit on this.) So giant piles of snow often means that all of your reference points on your fancy 3D map of the road are now obscured by piles of snow, and you still have to be able to position the car well enough that you know when to look for stoplights, cr…

Is it possible some kind of algorithm could be used to reveal the hidden detail beneath the snow?

Re: Self-driving car on Moscow streets after snowfall [video]

#55

Post by WillPostForFood »

kosmet wrote: post #28
walrus01 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Canadian perspective: This is very clear. Much more challenging is something like a multi-lane highway where the road markings have completely disappeared under snow. I'll be impressed when it can drive from Hope into the BC interior in winter in conditions that a human driver can handle with winter tires and possibly studs, but no need for chains. https://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=coq...

I'd be impressed if I see a self-driving car making a left turn in a crowded junction without a specific left-turn signal at LA. The only way to turn left in such roads is to make an illegal turn after the signal just becomes red. I wonder how the self-driving car would do in such a situation.

Turning after the light turns red isn’t illegal, it is what you are supposed to do to clear the intersection. Otherwise you’d be sitting there blocking traffic.

Re: Self-driving car on Moscow streets after snowfall [video]

#56

Post by taylored »

tw04 wrote: post #51

I'm sorry - this isn't a "heavy snowfall" in Moscow. It's just barely a dusting. That isn't even an inch of accumulation. Being able to self-drive when there is black pavement to be seen isn't impressive in the least. Show me a self-driving car functioning in white-out conditions (which is what Moscow faces on a regular basis, as does a large portion of the US) and I'll be impressed. This: http://bgr.com/2018/02/06/m…

In fact this scenario is easier than no snow, since road edges are so clearly defined

Re: Self-driving car on Moscow streets after snowfall [video]

#57

Post by pinum »

yters wrote: post #33
joshvm wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ultimately I think it'll have to be smart highways. You could embed a coded marker in the centre of each lane which the car can pick up using RF (e.g. an induction loop). This plus other constraints like GPS, visual-inertial odometry, etc should be enough to localise and remain safely within a lane boundary even if it's invisible. This would work fine through a layer of snow - some of the more expensive ski jackets h…

Seems like self-driving cars will turn into trains and trams by another name.

If it can take you 90-95% of the way, and seamlessly pass over control for the non-beaconed start and end stretches, that's still a serious convenience boost over a train/tram.

Re: Self-driving car on Moscow streets after snowfall [video]

#58

Post by kbuck »

kosmet wrote: post #28
walrus01 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Canadian perspective: This is very clear. Much more challenging is something like a multi-lane highway where the road markings have completely disappeared under snow. I'll be impressed when it can drive from Hope into the BC interior in winter in conditions that a human driver can handle with winter tires and possibly studs, but no need for chains. https://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=coq...

I'd be impressed if I see a self-driving car making a left turn in a crowded junction without a specific left-turn signal at LA. The only way to turn left in such roads is to make an illegal turn after the signal just becomes red. I wonder how the self-driving car would do in such a situation.

In California (and most places I've lived), this is actually legal. To complete the turn, you first enter the intersection while the light is green, then wait for traffic to clear. If it only clears after the light turns red, you're still in the right - because only when you fully entered the intersection (on the green light) is considered. See here: https://patch.com/california/sanbruno/ask-a-cop-should-i-pul...

Of course, this only allows one car (or maybe two, if the intersection is particularly large) per light cycle, which isn't much. People who enter the intersection on the yellow or red light (tailing the person who was in the intersection waiting to turn left) are turning illegally.

Re: Self-driving car on Moscow streets after snowfall [video]

#59

Post by kosmet »

sidyom wrote: post #50
kosmet wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be impressed if I see a self-driving car making a left turn in a crowded junction without a specific left-turn signal at LA. The only way to turn left in such roads is to make an illegal turn after the signal just becomes red. I wonder how the self-driving car would do in such a situation.

Ideally, isn't the point to have only autonomous vehicles and these situations become obsolete?

Maybe after all cars become autonomous. Earlier there will be a hybrid period where both manned and unmanned cars drive together I think.

Even all cars become autonomous, the problem will still be hard I believe. Hard coded rules may solve the problem but relying on communication and cooperation will not be easy.

Re: Self-driving car on Moscow streets after snowfall [video]

#60

Post by friendzis »

kosmet wrote: post #28
walrus01 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Canadian perspective: This is very clear. Much more challenging is something like a multi-lane highway where the road markings have completely disappeared under snow. I'll be impressed when it can drive from Hope into the BC interior in winter in conditions that a human driver can handle with winter tires and possibly studs, but no need for chains. https://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=coq...

I'd be impressed if I see a self-driving car making a left turn in a crowded junction without a specific left-turn signal at LA. The only way to turn left in such roads is to make an illegal turn after the signal just becomes red. I wonder how the self-driving car would do in such a situation.

Equally impressive would be four self driving cars turning left (in right-hand traffic) at equal priority intersection. At least in my country the rules are muddy in this case and no car has explicit priority. The most general "priority in right" loops around and cars should be stuck there indefinitely :)
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