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The primary reason we drive with separation is our reaction time. Computers can react must faster. In addition they can actually talk to the cars around them. T
by chrismcb 8y ago
The primary reason we drive with separation is our reaction time. Computers can react must faster. In addition they can actually talk to the cars around them. They could literally form a train.
We won't switch to self driving cars until they can drive better than humans. If they have to leave a larger buffer, then the work isn't done.
- viraptor 8y agoI don't think it applies that easily. There's still a chance an automated car encounters something that couldn't be spotted / reacted to. For example a deer/kangaroo/whatever jumping right in front of it. If the cars keep their distance, only the first one crashes. If they form a minimum-spacing train, the only message they can send to the following ones is "you're screwed now".
- colordrops 8y agoA deer would be unlikely to jump into a train of cars. They usually get caught by cars that have space in front of them. I know you are just giving a single example, but anything that applies to an actual train would apply to a virtual train as well. I don't understand why not having a physical latch between cars makes any real difference.
- viraptor 8y agoA deer doesn't affect a real train that much due to the mass difference. In case of cars though they cause serious damage. If the following cars don't keep a distance they end up immediately crashing into the first one, multiplying the damage. I don't have much experience with deer behaviour, but kangaroos will happily jump right into anything moving. They will even hit the side of your car sometimes (which they should've obviously seen coming)