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An Anonymous Coward writes:
As predicted by many (including posts here on SN), extensive testing now shows that if the driver's workload is reduced to near zero they are in no position to intervene should the autonomous system get in trouble.
The Detroit-based company has tried many ways to keep its engineers alert during autonomous car test runs, employing everything from alarm bells and lights to even putting a second engineer in the vehicle to monitor their counterpart. "No matter — the smooth ride was just too lulling and engineers struggled to maintain 'situational awareness,'" said Ford product development chief, Raj Nair.
Ford's strategy of eventually removing the steering wheel and pedals from self-driving cars has ignited a debate between automakers on how to approach the development of Level 3 self-driving vehicles, or if Level 3 should even exist at all.
BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi will introduce semi-autonomous Level 3 vehicles next year that require human intervention within 10 seconds or the vehicle will slow to a stop in its lane. However, other automakers like Nissan and Honda have upcoming systems that give the driver 30 seconds to prepare and re-engage the vehicle or it will pull to the side of the road.
The article continues with quotes from other manufacturers and US DOT. As a reminder, levels from 0 (no automation) through 5 have been defined by SAE. Level 3 is "conditional automation" and it's starting to look like this level is not such a good idea.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday February 21 2017, @07:16PM
> Exidy's Death Race
That's the problem here: automatic cars don't break the rules of the road... which is extremely boring, outside of the feeling they have to be getting about imminent rear-ending by semis.
Driving with the flow, while showing the user the 360 annotated view of other cars, might keep passengers interested for a little while (engineers, at least).
But to keep people awake, you really need to start scaring them occasionally, at least by having trigger-happy warnings about cars drifting erratically (there's always one), or by speeding and swerving a little more than necessary.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Tuesday February 21 2017, @07:45PM
But to keep people awake,
Maybe stop overworking your engineers and let them get a full night's sleep?
(Score: 2) by tibman on Tuesday February 21 2017, @07:59PM
Fine. But we're taking it out of their pay.
SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Tuesday February 21 2017, @10:09PM
"To save costs, we're going to decrease your salary by $20,000 per year. In return, you will be *guaranteed* a 40-hour workweek."
"Flex time?"
"Yes -- that 40 hours will be flexible. Now who's volunteer-- no no no !!!"
Detroit Free Press: Ford Engineering Director maimed in riot.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 21 2017, @07:53PM
I meant to say, this would not be fully automated driving software. The computer would sense the surroundings and draw them as an animation with bright colors and realistic sound effects, making driving fun for the human player. A traffic jam turns into a puzzle. A pedestrian turns into a hopping frog.