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because airport shuttles run on highly constrained routes between terminals and parking areas. why would self-driven taxis be cheap? there's still the cost, th

by hnriot 14y ago

because airport shuttles run on highly constrained routes between terminals and parking areas. why would self-driven taxis be cheap? there's still the cost, the maintenance and the security issues.

mahyarm 14y ago
In the medium term, you can manage fleets of electric cars which would be cheaper that any gas powered taxi. Parking fees would also be reduced. It should be cheaper than owning a car personally since those companies can use economies of scale that no one person can.
NegativeK 14y ago
I was discussing this yesterday. With self-driving cars (or buses), you can have completely dynamic routes for ride sharing optimization. Think Zipcars with carpooling.
elchief 14y ago
Taxi medallion: $500,000 Taxi insurance: $20,000/year Driver wages: 2 x $50,0000/year Why constrained routes? They can drive on mountain roads in the dark. Just say "I don't understand this, so I am against it"
- jlgreco 14y ago
  It is interesting to consider what removing human drivers could do for insurance rates too. If the machines are shown to be safer statistically (the only sort of reality that insurance companies care about), then insurance companies will love them.
  - elchief 14y ago
    Or insurance companies will go out of business :D
    - jlgreco 14y ago
      One can dream... Though after we eliminate the need for insurance we still need to eliminate the legal requirements too. As long as those are in place I suspect they'll do fine. I don't know how you would even approach that problem though, since it doesn't even become a problem until safety is well and truly solved. edit: edited the wrong comment somehow.
    - VMG 14y ago
      Doubtful - insurance is about pooling existential risk. The probability of an accident might be lower if a computer is driving, the possible damage might still be to much to handle without insurance.
VMG 14y ago
> why would self-driven taxis be cheap? Because robots don't expect to be paid. This effect has been observed in other industries. Also there is a an additional seat available.
- jlgreco 14y ago
  Potentially two additional seats available, if you put a bench style seat in the front now that that won't be crowding a driver.

by hnriot 14y ago

because airport shuttles run on highly constrained routes between terminals and parking areas. why would self-driven taxis be cheap? there's still the cost, the maintenance and the security issues.

mahyarm 14y ago

In the medium term, you can manage fleets of electric cars which would be cheaper that any gas powered taxi. Parking fees would also be reduced. It should be cheaper than owning a car personally since those companies can use economies of scale that no one person can.

NegativeK 14y ago

I was discussing this yesterday. With self-driving cars (or buses), you can have completely dynamic routes for ride sharing optimization. Think Zipcars with carpooling.

elchief 14y ago

Taxi medallion: $500,000 Taxi insurance: $20,000/year Driver wages: 2 x $50,0000/year Why constrained routes? They can drive on mountain roads in the dark. Just say "I don't understand this, so I am against it"

jlgreco 14y ago
It is interesting to consider what removing human drivers could do for insurance rates too. If the machines are shown to be safer statistically (the only sort of reality that insurance companies care about), then insurance companies will love them.
- elchief 14y ago
  Or insurance companies will go out of business :D
  - jlgreco 14y ago
    One can dream... Though after we eliminate the need for insurance we still need to eliminate the legal requirements too. As long as those are in place I suspect they'll do fine. I don't know how you would even approach that problem though, since it doesn't even become a problem until safety is well and truly solved. edit: edited the wrong comment somehow.
  - VMG 14y ago
    Doubtful - insurance is about pooling existential risk. The probability of an accident might be lower if a computer is driving, the possible damage might still be to much to handle without insurance.

VMG 14y ago

> why would self-driven taxis be cheap? Because robots don't expect to be paid. This effect has been observed in other industries. Also there is a an additional seat available.

jlgreco 14y ago
Potentially two additional seats available, if you put a bench style seat in the front now that that won't be crowding a driver.