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Apart from getting home from the pub after a few too many beers, what's wrong with just driving a car? Despite the billions of $ being poured into autonymous v

Apart from getting home from the pub after a few too many beers, what's wrong with just driving a car? Despite the billions of $ being poured into autonymous vehicles I've yet to find anyone who actually sees the need, or even less so would buy one.

fit2rule 8y ago
Auto-Driving cars have the potential to help the world cut carbon emissions. Cars that can synchronise their travel, and coordinate their movements can use fuel more efficiently. People are not good at driving efficiently. Over-braking, over-idle, under-steer .. all of these things contribute to fuel waste at scale.
- function_seven 8y ago
  The thing that's most compelling to me is the ability to accelerate slowly and maintain a slower speed. I can't do that. Well, I can, but I don't. When I'm driving, I like to get up to speed fairly quickly, and I tend to drive at or just above the posted limits in most cases. It's a flaw in my character. But in a self-driving car, not only am I not in charge of those decisions, I'm okay with it. Because I'm not preoccupied with the road and traffic, it's an out-of-sight-out-of-mind situation as I watch my movie or edit my spreadsheet. Just like it doesn't bother me when the train or bus is slow to get up to speed.
- notahacker 8y ago
  That sounds likely to be massively cancelled out by people taking car journeys that otherwise wouldn't happen because they don't have to be awake, sober or focused on driving for hours at a time, because the cheapest autoparking is way outside the city centre or because the taxi/courier is really cheap now the driver salary isn't included. And electric vehicles are already relatively efficient in energy use even if driven badly, particularly if charged using renewables.
  - fit2rule 8y ago
    Could also go the other way: people ride-share more frequently, even as a socialising activity, since they can sit and talk with each other while the car does all the work .. And, the next obvious step: private car ownership becomes a distant memory.
mikejb 8y ago
People don't need alcohol to be unable to drive, or be in a state where they shouldn't be driving. After a hard day of work, people are often too tired to drive; Elderly people often don't feel comfortable driving (often still do because it's their only way of getting around); People with disabilities often can't drive, or need expensive adaptions to be able to. Children can't drive (legally) at all. These are just some of the use cases. But also people who are fully capable of driving get advantages, particularly regarding commuting - instead of sitting in the car for an hour, one can rest, or if the job allows it, work on the way to the office. Additionally: we, as humans, suck at driving. And whilst it's a valid question whether machines can currently do a better job at it, I'm glad that there's time and money spent towards a future without human drivers (apart from driving as recreational activity).
RankingMember 8y ago
Imagine how beneficial full self-driving will be for people too old to drive, which, in an America where automobiles are necessary for transport in many places, causes them to lose their independence. Same for the disabled.

fit2rule 8y ago

Auto-Driving cars have the potential to help the world cut carbon emissions. Cars that can synchronise their travel, and coordinate their movements can use fuel more efficiently. People are not good at driving efficiently. Over-braking, over-idle, under-steer .. all of these things contribute to fuel waste at scale.

function_seven 8y ago
The thing that's most compelling to me is the ability to accelerate slowly and maintain a slower speed. I can't do that. Well, I can, but I don't. When I'm driving, I like to get up to speed fairly quickly, and I tend to drive at or just above the posted limits in most cases. It's a flaw in my character. But in a self-driving car, not only am I not in charge of those decisions, I'm okay with it. Because I'm not preoccupied with the road and traffic, it's an out-of-sight-out-of-mind situation as I watch my movie or edit my spreadsheet. Just like it doesn't bother me when the train or bus is slow to get up to speed.
notahacker 8y ago
That sounds likely to be massively cancelled out by people taking car journeys that otherwise wouldn't happen because they don't have to be awake, sober or focused on driving for hours at a time, because the cheapest autoparking is way outside the city centre or because the taxi/courier is really cheap now the driver salary isn't included. And electric vehicles are already relatively efficient in energy use even if driven badly, particularly if charged using renewables.
- fit2rule 8y ago
  Could also go the other way: people ride-share more frequently, even as a socialising activity, since they can sit and talk with each other while the car does all the work .. And, the next obvious step: private car ownership becomes a distant memory.

mikejb 8y ago

People don't need alcohol to be unable to drive, or be in a state where they shouldn't be driving. After a hard day of work, people are often too tired to drive; Elderly people often don't feel comfortable driving (often still do because it's their only way of getting around); People with disabilities often can't drive, or need expensive adaptions to be able to. Children can't drive (legally) at all. These are just some of the use cases. But also people who are fully capable of driving get advantages, particularly regarding commuting - instead of sitting in the car for an hour, one can rest, or if the job allows it, work on the way to the office. Additionally: we, as humans, suck at driving. And whilst it's a valid question whether machines can currently do a better job at it, I'm glad that there's time and money spent towards a future without human drivers (apart from driving as recreational activity).

RankingMember 8y ago

Imagine how beneficial full self-driving will be for people too old to drive, which, in an America where automobiles are necessary for transport in many places, causes them to lose their independence. Same for the disabled.