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Based on my own observations, there's probably a big difference between operating as a taxi in Berlin and Rome, and another between operating in Rome and Mumbai
by gervase 9y ago
Based on my own observations, there's probably a big difference between operating as a taxi in Berlin and Rome, and another between operating in Rome and Mumbai. This only factors in other human drivers and infrastructure design/signage, not weather conditions (a different can of worms).
I suspect that we'll see a progression like:
1) Well-regulated urban and highway environments
2) Well-regulated rural environments
3) Moderately regulated urban and rural environments
4) Poorly regulated rural environments
5) Poorly regulated urban environments
And I think we'll probably be stuck on #1 for a while. I would also venture that most companies claiming to "be there" or "almost there" are referring to #1 as well.
I also think that it's possible that politicians may try to legislate a transition up that list as that first case starts taking off (greater traffic enforcement, better signage/infrastructure, more rigorous driver training, etc).
- antirez 9y agoMy feeling is that under special situations 1 degradates to 5, so to have good security anyway you have to solve problem 5.
- mulmen 9y agoWhat are the special situations where 1 gives way to 5? The well-regulated part would imply to me that the possibility of slipping to another situation are eliminated or not allowed.
- cmrdporcupine 9y agoBlizzard. Heavy rainfall or wind. Sudden crowd / riot / chaotic event. Pretty sure you can't legislate those out of existence. And sadly I think the fact that these vehicles are being developed and tested in Silicon Valley is either a cause or an symptom of their probably inability to deal with those kinds of conditions.
- guelo 9y agoAlso, accidents, road spills, random obstacles, construction, animals.
- mulmen 9y agoRoad spills, random obstacles and animals all have to be dealt with for any of this to work at all. Construction can be considered in the regulations and self-driving cars can just be restricted from auto-drive mode in construction areas.
- seanmcdirmid 9y agoErm, china has more than a dozen well funded self driving efforts, some of them by very big companies (baidu). Those are being tested in places like Beijing, you never hear of them because you aren't looking outside of the USA.
- mulmen 9y agoI wasn't suggesting legislating the conditions out of existence. I was thinking that kind of situation could be considered in the regulation. Much like VFR flight conditions a self-driving car would not operate in heavy rain/wind or low temperatures.
- alkonaut 9y agoAgree. And "will regulated" also probably includes a climate similar to what's found in e.g California.