Can Google really do what they want?

[universal4]

Self driving cars are coming whether we want them to or not, and Google is making many strides toward that.
http://venturebeat.com/2016/04/26/ho...-driving-cars/

On of the most interesting statements I found in this article is this:

But before that happens, Google needs to change regulations – the federal, state and local edicts that cover everything from whether cars must have steering wheels to who’s at fault if a driverless car hits another vehicle.

Notice, it doesn't say that they will lobby congress or other lawmakers to state their side of the story to try and get regulations passed or changed that would favor them, it just clearly says they will change regulations.

I honestly do think in the end this will happen and may even reduce traffic fatalities over the long term, and with a company like Google arming the lobbyists you can be assured the regs will get changed.

I also see huge lawsuits coming the first time there is a fatality or serious accident involving a driverless car. I do not know what the stats are since they are likely hidden as much as possible, but I do recall reading in an article recently that the few accidents where driverless cars were involved, the fault was always determined to be with another car and it's human driver.

Rick
Universal4

[Renee]

This scares me a bit. At the same time it would be good for people who go out on the **** and choose to drive rather than get a cab home etc. At least they wouldn't be behind the wheel.

[universal4]

Good point Renee, as well as having that many more cars (without drivers) that would be following the speed limit, actually using turn signals, not driving aggressively, as well as not taking their eyes off the road to read their texts.

Rick
Universal4

[Christiaan]

Other advantage is that there will be less women behind the wheel

[JackTenSuited]

If all cars and vehicles were drive by robots there would be substantially less fatalities etc. I look forward to the day it happens (even though I enjoy driving). It seems the tech is already here it's just the red tape to get through which will probably be the biggest hurdle.
Hopefully planes will also be fully computer flown too, after all how often do computer sget depressed and fly in to mountains? http://www.planecrashinfo.com/cause.htm

[sweetbet]

What happens if you have a medical emergency and you need to get to hospital in a hurry, or you have a different type of emergency that requires you to put the pedal to the metal?

[Christiaan]

If cars are automated ambulances should also be faster, it will be easier to get the road free for ambulances and the can drive faster. It would be best to get an ambulance to you instead of you driving dangerously to the hospital.

[Doolally]

Once all the vehicles on the road work this way, it'll be great. They'll be able to go as fast as they want because they'll all be in communication with each other so accidents, between vehicles, won't happen.

Regarding Google and the re-writing of the rule-book, I also think this is ok and is the right thing to do if it changes legislation for the better and makes it more suited to driverless vehicles.

It's the future and it's coming and I think it'll be ok. To be honest, it's not what I think we'll be worrying about in 20 years time.

[universal4]

Once all the vehicles on the road work this way, it'll be great. They'll be able to go as fast as they want because they'll all be in communication with each other so accidents, between vehicles, won't happen.

Until the server is hacked and all the vehicles are directed to drive off cliffs or into the ocean....

It is most likely only a question of when not if the severs that talk to the cars are hacked.

Also, I wonder if say restaurant owners or hoteliers can pay for better placements?

Google car says "I'm sorry passengers, but that restaurant is not on our approved list, since it did not follow our guidelines, so we will take you to this restaurant."

Rick
Universal4

[TheGooner]

Once all the vehicles on the road work this way, it'll be great. They'll be able to go as fast as they want because they'll all be in communication with each other so accidents, between vehicles, won't happen.

Maybe down major highways - and roads with embedded markers etc.

There was an automated car that toured here recently and it could not even handle our state highway system at merge points (frequent) or road works locations (almost as frequent ) and it needed the driver to grab the wheel 4-5 times in a 20 minutes drive to over-ride and stay in lane.

And I have no idea how it was supposed to choose a car park in a shopping mall ?

At the same time it would be good for people who go out on the **** and choose to drive rather than get a cab home etc. At least they wouldn't be behind the wheel.

Until the car can't handle the situation - then the drunk has to handle a tough spot!

I live down a country lane that has no median stripe - no edge markers as it goes from sealed road to stones to grass. The GPS misses the entrance to my house by about 300 metres - and I cannot see how the car / google know whats side of the garage that I prefer to park on.

I just don't see a drunk gooner relying on this tech to get me home ... even though it would be a GREAT idea.

Much of the world is built this way - and fails to meet the Google ideals.

-------------------------

Seriously, I know how often my computer / phone / router needs rebooting in order to get it functioning correctly. And that's OK because it's not a life and death situation. Auto-driving cars without steering? This had better be bullet proof - airplane autopilot quality - and THAT costs.

I guess it will happen in some specially set-up situations, big cities will sort out a roading signal - but I don't expect world-wide adoption in rural locations (95% of the world) in my lifetime.

[universal4]

Good point Paul, I do see this stuff being being rolled out in more metropolitan areas first, most likely in cities in the US first, but you never know, Google may at some point find that regulations are easier to get past in other countries ahead of the US.

Rick
Universal4

[pokeraussie]

I think there's a ways to go before driverless cars gain momentum if they do at all. I don't even think they're legal in Australia.

[Syndicate]

The wife will be pissed - She's been practicing her parking for 20 years now, and she's got it down from 10 car lengths to 3. Instead of meter from the kerb she's now at half a meter. And, best of all no more dents --- just about 500 a year in scratches!

Just has she was getting the hang of it!!

[Renee]

Other advantage is that there will be less women behind the wheel

Not all women are bad drivers.

What happens if you have a medical emergency and you need to get to hospital in a hurry, or you have a different type of emergency that requires you to put the pedal to the metal?

I'd like to think there is some setting in the car that you could input an emergency and if it was going to a hospital it should be able to go faster. Wishful thinking maybe.

Until the server is hacked and all the vehicles are directed to drive off cliffs or into the ocean....

It is most likely only a question of when not if the severs that talk to the cars are hacked.

Also, I wonder if say restaurant owners or hoteliers can pay for better placements?

Google car says "I'm sorry passengers, but that restaurant is not on our approved list, since it did not follow our guidelines, so we will take you to this restaurant."

Rick
Universal4

I wouldn't even have thought of the hacking.
And the last part is probably accurate too LOL

Maybe down major highways - and roads with embedded markers etc.

There was an automated car that toured here recently and it could not even handle our state highway system at merge points (frequent) or road works locations (almost as frequent ) and it needed the driver to grab the wheel 4-5 times in a 20 minutes drive to over-ride and stay in lane.

And I have no idea how it was supposed to choose a car park in a shopping mall ?


Until the car can't handle the situation - then the drunk has to handle a tough spot!

I live down a country lane that has no median stripe - no edge markers as it goes from sealed road to stones to grass. The GPS misses the entrance to my house by about 300 metres - and I cannot see how the car / google know whats side of the garage that I prefer to park on.

I just don't see a drunk gooner relying on this tech to get me home ... even though it would be a GREAT idea.

Much of the world is built this way - and fails to meet the Google ideals.

-------------------------

Seriously, I know how often my computer / phone / router needs rebooting in order to get it functioning correctly. And that's OK because it's not a life and death situation. Auto-driving cars without steering? This had better be bullet proof - airplane autopilot quality - and THAT costs.

I guess it will happen in some specially set-up situations, big cities will sort out a roading signal - but I don't expect world-wide adoption in rural locations (95% of the world) in my lifetime.

You're right, in conditions that are not ideal/perfect, it will fail. I wonder if they make the computers learn.
I used to work for an engineering company who sold intelligent security software and it learned faces amongst other things. If they wanted to make it foolproof they would have to make it learn things like most used roads etc. More wishful thinking perhaps.

Personally i actually like driving. So it's not ideal for me to have one of these.

[universal4]

So are you suggesting that the AI that Google is using will not be gender specific.....?

So the computer driving will never put on makeup while in traffic and it will never bother to use a gps for directions?

LOL

Rick
Universal4

[Celebrationbird]

Everything is getting outta hand, just saw that sony have a patent and soon prototype for eye lences with cameras which will turn into social media real quick

[Renee]

So are you suggesting that the AI that Google is using will not be gender specific.....?

So the computer driving will never put on makeup while in traffic and it will never bother to use a gps for directions?

LOL

Rick
Universal4

I've never put makeup on in traffic, on public transport or anything like that. I don't understand why a woman would want to carry more around with her than is necessary. My dad always tells me I should have been a boy. This just reinforces that.

Everything is getting outta hand, just saw that sony have a patent and soon prototype for eye lences with cameras which will turn into social media real quick

Now this is a bit scary. Where do they draw the line on where you can use them?
People are not even going to feel safe changing in a change room anymore.