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Self-driving automobiles

Would you support strictly using self-driving automobiles?

  • Yes

    Votes: 11 24.4%

  • No

    Votes: 25 55.6%

  • Unsure

    Votes: 9 20.0%
  • Total voters
    45
I voted unsure because the technology isn't there yet. I would support it only if the technology were developed and were extremely reliable. It's a ways off because there's a huge difference in driving during sunny 80 degrees or at night in rain or in a snow storm.
 
Wake said:
Mathematician, do you percieve any flaws in your plan of self-driving automobiles?
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With experience in large programming projects, I'm confident that any flaws you can think have a simple solution. Conditional statements and rescue clauses in programming are used to detect and handle when something goes wrong. Shoot any concerns of flaws at me and I'll explain how I'd prevent/fix it.
 
Luna Tick said:
I voted unsure because the technology isn't there yet. I would support it only if the technology were developed and were extremely reliable. It's a ways off because there's a huge difference in driving during sunny 80 degrees or at night in rain or in a snow storm.
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You're right about the weather being a factor in driving. Automated driving would make certain that the proper caution is taken by every car, instead of some people taking too little/much caution. We obviously have the technology to monitor the weather status, so this could be fed into the settings.
 
What happens when the car starts to wear out. Most people maintain their car but not all.

I would always be worried about the brakes and steering and everything else.
 
The number one reason I voted no to self driven autos...It would take 10 yrs of no recalls from the automakers...10 yrs of no steering wheels falling off of new cars on the highway doing 60 with kids in car seats in the back. 10 yrs of no gas pedals sticking and causing accidents and deaths.
No matter how good the science how great the idea...someone still has to build it...and that scares me.
 
Mason66 said:
What happens when the car starts to wear out. Most people maintain their car but not all.

I would always be worried about the brakes and steering and everything else.
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That is an excellent point...what about the people that wont maintain their vehicle and puts everyone else at risk...yes that does happen now...but when you have people sleeping and txting and putting on makeup and checkin out the chics knowing they dont have to watch the road at all ...now thats scarey
 
Mason66 said:
What happens when the car starts to wear out. Most people maintain their car but not all.

I would always be worried about the brakes and steering and everything else.
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You see cars already today which are able to monitor when preventative maintenance is needed for particular parts.
 
Mathematician said:
You see cars already today which are able to monitor when preventative maintenance is needed for particular parts.
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That doesnt assure anyone is going to do it...and so far thats only on high end vehicles...the majority of vehicles do not have that included.

I would rather see automated driving assistance where the driver has to maintain alertness has to be proactive with alot of help mechanically.
 
lpast said:
That doesnt assure anyone is going to do it...and so far thats only on high end vehicles...the majority of vehicles do not have that included.

I would rather see automated driving assistance where the driver has to maintain alertness has to be proactive with alot of help mechanically.
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My Accord has this feature, which IMHO isn't a high-end car. With the cars monitoring this, notification could be sent to an authority figure through the network for enforcement.
 
Mathematician said:
My Accord has this feature, which IMHO isn't a high-end car. With the cars monitoring this, notification could be sent to an authority figure through the network for enforcement.
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why would we continue to own private vehicles with this system
eventually, we could summon the device at will. no need to keep one parked out back waiting for us to use it
all would need to meet the same performance criteria, other than manifest capacity
that sameness would facilitate fleet maintenance
mass transit ... but for the individuals
 
justabubba said:
why would we continue to own private vehicles with this system
eventually, we could summon the device at will. no need to keep one parked out back waiting for us to use it
all would need to meet the same performance criteria, other than manifest capacity
that sameness would facilitate fleet maintenance
mass transit ... but for the individuals
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The two standard options will be left for the consumer; you can own one or pay per ride.
 
Last edited:
I really like to drive, it's one of the things I do best!
I may go over the speed limit, but I have never been in an accident where it's been my fault---I hit a deer once and someone rear-ended me.....but I'm a pretty good driver. And I like being in control. No thanks to a self driving car. Hell why not just get a chauffeur??
 
Biggest problem I see is you hook a car up to a network, and there's the chance it'll be hacked. Other than that, great idea.
 
spud_meister said:
Biggest problem I see is you hook a car up to a network, and there's the chance it'll be hacked. Other than that, great idea.
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Geeez, that's some **** now!
People can hack into your computers, but someday, they may be able to hack into your car???!?!!?!?!
Talk about starting off the day in a bad mood, waking up and find your car hacked into ~LoL~
 
I really don't like the idea.

I enjoy driving and I'm damn good at it never getting into an accident in the fourteen years I have been doing it almost everyday that was my fault.

My biggest problem with it is the only way this could work is if everyone was forced into these kind cars. My other problem with it many would call stupid but they need a GPS unit to work and I'm against the idea of them.

The hacking problem would also suck now that spud mentioned it. lol
 
AriesAngel said:
I really like to drive, it's one of the things I do best!
I may go over the speed limit, but I have never been in an accident where it's been my fault---I hit a deer once and someone rear-ended me.....but I'm a pretty good driver. And I like being in control. No thanks to a self driving car. Hell why not just get a chauffeur??
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Yeah but how many wrecks have you caused? Ever look in your rear view mirror?:lol:
 
spud_meister said:
Biggest problem I see is you hook a car up to a network, and there's the chance it'll be hacked. Other than that, great idea.
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You can separate the networked components from the critical driving components. Every modern car already has vital components like the brakes and engine controlled by computers anyway. A lot of modern cars also have networked features like onstar or integrated cell phone capability. However, the networked components are kept separate to prevent hacking from becoming a catastrophe.
 
Mathematician said:
As an applied mathematician and computer scientist, I am curious what percentage of the public would accept the conversion from using human-driven automobiles to self-driving automobiles. The necessary technology is clearly realistic. Let's assume, for the sake of simplicity, that the cost will be relatively the same. Here is just an initial list of benefits of my proposal:
  1. Prevention of DUI
  2. Prevention of accidents due to poor driving skills
  3. Prevention of traffic jams
  4. Potential to increase speed limits
  5. Freedom to focus on other things (child, eating, work, etc.)
  6. Auto-navigation
Some of these even have benefits as a consequence, such as improved fuel efficiency as a result of fewer/no traffic jams. What support or opposition does anyone wish to provide?
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I can think of some reasons to not ban regular automobiles-

Freedom to drive where ever you want I imagine that in order for that system to work everything has to be preprogramed

Freedom to drive where ever you want without the government knowing where you are driving because I imagine such a system would require some sort of massive GPS system.

Extremely costly. There might have to be some sort of satellite tracking system or some imbedded rails to help control where the vehicles go.

Computer driven cars can be subject to hacking.

If there is a automobile accident the responsible car owner pays

If there is a accident then I am sure that the whole system does not have to be stopped to find out what bugged caused it.

Banning regular automobiles might cause a drop in POV ownership. What would be the point in owning a car you can't drive yourself, you might as well just call a cab take the bus or some other form of public transportation.

Computer glitches do happen and I would rather trust my life to another person than to a machine.
 
Any thoughts on how this'll change the car industry? Would there still be different models/brands of cars? Or since there'll all automatic, one major mainframe that controls said cars would manufacture such cars? No, I can see one mainframe that controls the cars yet see different car makers who make sure the car "recievers" stand in lockstep with the mainframe that controls said cars.
 
jamesrage said:
I can think of some reasons to not ban regular automobiles-

Freedom to drive where ever you want I imagine that in order for that system to work everything has to be preprogramed
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Maps installed are what topologists call path connected. If you choose a particular set of coordinates on the map which correspond to a valid destination then you can get there. This will actually allow us to prevent things like that person who accidentally set it to drive instead of reverse and drove smash into the convenience store.

jamesrage said:
Freedom to drive where ever you want without the government knowing where you are driving because I imagine such a system would require some sort of massive GPS system.
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You're already traceable if you carry a cell phone.

jamesrage said:
Extremely costly. There might have to be some sort of satellite tracking system or some imbedded rails to help control where the vehicles go.
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Like any technology, it will be costly initially but will drop drastically in price within a short period of time.

jamesrage said:
Computer driven cars can be subject to hacking.
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People seem overly concerned about this. There are several preventative measures. As rathi has already pointed out, the navigation system and control system will be separate computer systems.

jamesrage said:
If there is a automobile accident the responsible car owner pays
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I visualize this system as somewhat similar to a cell-phone service and insurance company combined. You've got a company to make sure you have service, combined with insuring the service they provide.

jamesrage said:
If there is a accident then I am sure that the whole system does not have to be stopped to find out what bugged caused it.
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The plan is to have rescue clauses within the code so that other vehicles know how to avoid the accident and creating another.

jamesrage said:
Banning regular automobiles might cause a drop in POV ownership. What would be the point in owning a car you can't drive yourself, you might as well just call a cab take the bus or some other form of public transportation.
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There are many reasons to still own one. Just like the difference between a POV and a cab, you won't have to pay a mileage fee if you own it. You also won't have to wait for it to arrive for you to get on the road.

jamesrage said:
Computer glitches do happen and I would rather trust my life to another person than to a machine.
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The human brain also has potential for glitches, especially the ones due to drinking or aging.
 
justabubba said:
why would we continue to own private vehicles with this system
eventually, we could summon the device at will. no need to keep one parked out back waiting for us to use it
all would need to meet the same performance criteria, other than manifest capacity
that sameness would facilitate fleet maintenance
mass transit ... but for the individuals
Click to expand...

Where would people keep their wallets?
 
AriesAngel said:
I really like to drive, it's one of the things I do best!
I may go over the speed limit, but I have never been in an accident where it's been my fault---I hit a deer once and someone rear-ended me.....but I'm a pretty good driver. And I like being in control. No thanks to a self driving car. Hell why not just get a chauffeur??
Click to expand...

I bet the deer would say it was your fault.
 
jamesrage said:
I can think of some reasons to not ban regular automobiles-

Freedom to drive where ever you want I imagine that in order for that system to work everything has to be preprogramed

Freedom to drive where ever you want without the government knowing where you are driving because I imagine such a system would require some sort of massive GPS system.

Extremely costly. There might have to be some sort of satellite tracking system or some imbedded rails to help control where the vehicles go.

Computer driven cars can be subject to hacking.

If there is a automobile accident the responsible car owner pays

If there is a accident then I am sure that the whole system does not have to be stopped to find out what bugged caused it.

Banning regular automobiles might cause a drop in POV ownership. What would be the point in owning a car you can't drive yourself, you might as well just call a cab take the bus or some other form of public transportation.

Computer glitches do happen and I would rather trust my life to another person than to a machine.
Click to expand...

If you get a call when you half way to work that your kid got violently ill at school, how do you quickly take over and get to where you need to go.

I think the combination of computer and human interaction is too much to risk.
 
Wake said:
Any thoughts on how this'll change the car industry? Would there still be different models/brands of cars? Or since there'll all automatic, one major mainframe that controls said cars would manufacture such cars? No, I can see one mainframe that controls the cars yet see different car makers who make sure the car "recievers" stand in lockstep with the mainframe that controls said cars.
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If this happens, how will a middle aged man show his **** is bigger than the next guys?
 
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