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> We will eventually update markings and beacons on the roads to make it easier for the cars. Or even easier, platooning. I don't understand why autonomous ca

> We will eventually update markings and beacons on the roads to make it easier for the cars. Or even easier, platooning. I don't understand why autonomous cars is a bigger thing than platooning. I mean, platooning solves 95% of use cases of self driving cars [1] and is orders of magnitude easier problem to solve. [1] At least for me. I do not mind driving in the cities myself, but if I just could nap or watch a movie on the highway part, that would have some utility

HereBeBeasties 7y ago
If cars could assemble into close convoy trains on multi-lane highways / motorways / autoroutes / whatever, then it would probably also solve electric car range for many people - you only care about range on relatively long distance journeys, and you're likely to be doing those on major multi-lane carriageways. If you could split the air resistance between a bunch of other vehicles then you'd add considerably to the range. I similarly don't understand why we're not trying to solve that instead. As you say, it seems easy compared to full autonomous driving.
lsc 7y ago
https://peloton-tech.com https://peloton-tech.com - I mean, that's just one company, I think there are a handful working on just the problem you're talking about.
- beefield 7y ago
  Yes. Can you estimate how much these companies have received funding compared to self-driving tech companies/projects? My wild guess (based only on the general visibility) is that it amounts pretty much to a rounding error.
  - lsc 7y ago
    sure, but I think the truck convoy companies are run a little bit more like regular companies than startups? they have a reasonable near-term goal and sales pipeline. Like, I think if you have a couple modern trucks you can go have peloton install their system and you can use it right now.
    - beefield 7y ago
      Yes, but what we are missing is a platform[1] where I can join a random convoy going the same direction than me. And pay something for the lead car or offer myself as a lead car in case I feel like driving and earning some money. This would be in startup territory for me that would deserve more VC money than autonomous technology. At least just now. [1] I assume also some regulatory developments for this are missing in addition to platform and universal tech kit for private cars. In case such platform already exists and all regulatory hurdles have been tackled, then I miss only widespread adoption and marketing...
      - lsc 7y ago
        Actually, I think there's a huge opportunity for the incumbent car manufacturers there. Considering how much identification many consumers have with their car brands, this could work out well (maybe even better) if it were only compatible with cars from the same manufacturer. I mean, you could do a retrofit kit for regular cars, too... but that seems harder to get exactly right (I mean, considering the cost of a fuckup) and would require a bunch of new marketing infrastructure, whereas if Ford, say, just bought peloton and said "hey, make this work across our model lines" - well, that'd be a pretty good argument for buying a ford.
devdas 7y ago
This could be solved for cheaper with better public transport.

HereBeBeasties 7y ago

If cars could assemble into close convoy trains on multi-lane highways / motorways / autoroutes / whatever, then it would probably also solve electric car range for many people - you only care about range on relatively long distance journeys, and you're likely to be doing those on major multi-lane carriageways. If you could split the air resistance between a bunch of other vehicles then you'd add considerably to the range. I similarly don't understand why we're not trying to solve that instead. As you say, it seems easy compared to full autonomous driving.

lsc 7y ago

https://peloton-tech.com https://peloton-tech.com - I mean, that's just one company, I think there are a handful working on just the problem you're talking about.

beefield 7y ago
Yes. Can you estimate how much these companies have received funding compared to self-driving tech companies/projects? My wild guess (based only on the general visibility) is that it amounts pretty much to a rounding error.
- lsc 7y ago
  sure, but I think the truck convoy companies are run a little bit more like regular companies than startups? they have a reasonable near-term goal and sales pipeline. Like, I think if you have a couple modern trucks you can go have peloton install their system and you can use it right now.
  - beefield 7y ago
    Yes, but what we are missing is a platform[1] where I can join a random convoy going the same direction than me. And pay something for the lead car or offer myself as a lead car in case I feel like driving and earning some money. This would be in startup territory for me that would deserve more VC money than autonomous technology. At least just now. [1] I assume also some regulatory developments for this are missing in addition to platform and universal tech kit for private cars. In case such platform already exists and all regulatory hurdles have been tackled, then I miss only widespread adoption and marketing...
    - lsc 7y ago
      Actually, I think there's a huge opportunity for the incumbent car manufacturers there. Considering how much identification many consumers have with their car brands, this could work out well (maybe even better) if it were only compatible with cars from the same manufacturer. I mean, you could do a retrofit kit for regular cars, too... but that seems harder to get exactly right (I mean, considering the cost of a fuckup) and would require a bunch of new marketing infrastructure, whereas if Ford, say, just bought peloton and said "hey, make this work across our model lines" - well, that'd be a pretty good argument for buying a ford.

devdas 7y ago

This could be solved for cheaper with better public transport.