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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 number6 on Wednesday February 22 2017, @03:00AM
Discard the idea that cars need to be fast futuristic-looking slick desirable luxurious things; take your design cues from the simplicity, efficiency and utility of bicycles, trains, and the lifestyles of the Amish culture.
i.e. design cars with utility and efficiency as the only priority; super-low rolling resistance thin large diameter spoked exterior wheels like penny-farthing bicycles and old vintage cars; also super-springy leaf-spring suspensions; this allows you a super-comfortable efficient ride over rough terrain without needing roads which look like bowling alleys .....................stop manufacturing roads from concrete/asphalt/tar; build road systems by hydraulic-tamping the dirt and consolidate its surface with some environmentally friendly polymers.
Restrict the horsepower and speed to sane levels and discourage the idea of sports/muscle cars; .........allow the front windscreen to fully swing up exposing the occupants to be exposed to the oncoming wind (in nice conditions or when feeling drowsy).
Design transport infrastructure around longer time-frames. Re-define distances and densities and spaces and storage elements and supply chains. Slow down and smell the roses in all areas of human endeavor.
Make a thing which is more repairable and recyclable by a single human than the last created thing.
My concluding opinion on this whole driverless/autonomous car phenomenon:
It's a big joke being played out by technology maniacs without the will to retract their mouth from the dick of wealthy old oligarchs who've lost their moral compass;
this project does not include higher-order thinking in its parameters.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 22 2017, @03:45AM
build road systems by hydraulic-tamping the dirt and consolidate its surface with some environmentally friendly polymers
Someone likes mud and ruts. That 'polymer' will do nothing. Lets be nice and say a car weighs 1 ton (older models can be as high as 4). That means each wheel has 250 pounds in a 1/4 ft area. The thinner the tire the more weight on the area. The bigger the area the more distributed it is.
Now do the same thing with truck. The legal weight is 80,000 pounds. Or about 4444 pounds per tire. They can also get permits to go overweight so long as they stick to particular roads.
Now add in water, ice, grit, dirt, and other things. Those other things become abrasives. Many states have tried making roads out of plastic. Usually recycled 2liter bottles. They found the grit ate the roads up in no time at all. So they went with mixed and it was better but they still did not last as long. Also add in weeds. So you better have some way to remove them. As weeds do not stop. So now you are talking chemicals and frequent spraying.
The cement and asphalt is actually cost effective. Repaving roads is expensive in time, money, and traffic jams. The material itself is actually the CHEAP part (2-3 cents per pound). Properly grading and water run off design is the part where all the cost goes. Many times they regrind it in place and re-mix with new just to save cost. Cement has an amazing amount of compression strength but poor lateral strength. Dirt has neither. Asphalt is usually slathered over cement (not always). Because it has an interesting property. It is slightly gooey and easy to lay down a new layer. It can sorta self heal in hot weather. Which is nice as you do not have to come out and tear up the road every 3-4 years but maybe every 10. However, it is very brittle in cold weather. It is why you see it more in the south and not as much in northern areas. You see it in cities more as they like the speed at which it can go down. Which means minimizing the disruption tearing up the roads creates.
For some areas your idea may be quite feasible. Others not as much. Sorry. There will be a long cross over of driving/self drive cars. For cars the cycle is around 10-15 years. Someone will pay the price for all of that new infrastructure you want. Who will do that? I can 100% guarantee it will not be those rich oligarchs. It will be you and me with a good portion ending up in their pocket. They will make up a tax for it. On the other end what do I get out of it? A lesser system that has more limitations and costs more to do anything with.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 22 2017, @07:52AM
there are vehicles that need to move as fast as possible: ambulances, fire trucks. and police cars, although some may argue against that.
society will not allow you to slow down these vehicles.
strong roads are also strategically relevant.
if you need to move many soldiers very fast, you need good roads for big heavy vehicles, including tanks.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 22 2017, @08:13AM
" thin large diameter spoked exterior wheels "
That's what Americans are putting under their cars already in every car building tv show and IRL. Those chromed, low profile, spoked wheels, that look just like the cart wheels, except a little wider. Holy shit they are ugly.
(Score: 2) by carguy on Wednesday February 22 2017, @03:06PM
> ... design cars with utility and efficiency as the only priority ...
I think you are reinventing the Holsman -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holsman_Automobile_Company [wikipedia.org]
A good friend drives his 1906 model for short trips (Honda minivan for everything else). I've driven it, it didn't take long to get used to steering with the tiller and using the twist grip throttle (reversed from motorcycle, wrist-moves-up for faster). It's kind of like driving a lawn tractor, but with seating position higher than most pickups and SUVs. 35 mph is possible, but not a good idea to turn at that speed. He's nearly 80 now and hand cranking the opposed two-cylinder engine was difficult, so he added an electric starter.
The original customers were often country doctors in the midwest who replaced their horse and buggy with something that could negotiate the rural dirt roads of the day and keep them above the mud.