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from the probably-painted-bright-orange dept.
Germany is planning to require "black boxes" in autonomous and semi-autonomous cars:
Germany plans new legislation to require manufacturers of cars equipped with an autopilot function to install a black box to help determine responsibility in the event of an accident, transport ministry sources told Reuters on Monday. The fatal crash of a Tesla Motors Inc Model S car in its Autopilot mode has increased the pressure on industry executives and regulators to ensure that automated driving technology can be deployed safely.
Under the proposal from Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt, drivers will not have to pay attention to traffic or concentrate on steering, but must remain seated at the wheel so they can intervene in the event of an emergency. Manufacturers will also be required to install a black box that records when the autopilot system was active, when the driver drove and when the system requested that the driver take over, according to the proposals. The draft is due to be sent to other ministries for approval this summer, a transport ministry spokesman said.
Look for the kill switch next. Also at Ars Technica.
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Wednesday July 20 2016, @02:58AM
I think it's a good idea fro a couple of reasons. First, all the sensor data is there anyways, it's not like they'll need to add any. Second, even beyond assigning blame, or other lawyerfest related activities, the data can be used to make sure the same errors never happen again. This can be done to help even in cases where the computer is not at fault.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday July 20 2016, @03:33AM
Blackboxes are already installed in most modern cars, especially the expensive ones.
Some of this can be used to convict you in court.
I suspect these will be a lot more complete, sort of like the ones in Tesla where the company knows you are in an accident before your head stops ringing.
Still I doubt every accident can be programmed never to happen again. There are so many novel ways to get into an accident that preventing each might cause other.
For a perverse form of education I watch a lot of Russian Dashcam videos on youtube. You can learn a lot from them. And some wrecks are just unavoidable.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.