4 ms·

I really hope they partner with Google on this, at least I can't think of any reason not to.

by Zikes 13y ago

MartinCron 13y ago
I was thinking the opposite. Competition is good and there isn't any obvious competition to Google in the self-driving car space.
- Permit 13y ago
  There is actually a reasonable amount of competition within the autonomous car space. A lot of people online only ever hear about Google's initiatives, but Audi, BMW et al. are building driving systems, some of which approach 100+ km/h.[1] I definitely agree that more competition in the area is good. Hopefully as more players build these systems, they'll continue to improve and be commercialized quicker. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_car#2010s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_car#2010s
  - MartinCron 13y ago
    That's why I added "obvious", because even though there are a lot of autonomous efforts (large and small) from other companies, Google seems to be getting all of the attention.
    - w_t_payne 13y ago
      Well, Google did hire the people who won the DARPA Grand Challenge(s): http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Team-Behind-Google-s-Autonomous-Cars-Project-and-Details-About-the-Experiments-160321.shtml http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Team-Behind-Google-s-Auto...
- aylons 13y ago
  Actually, several manufacturers have self-driving car projects[1]. some of them are even field-testing them in real-life situations, such as a driven leader truck being followed by other trucks[2]. So, I don't think it lacks competition for Google, who doesn't even build their cars - most probably they'll license the technology for other companies, and Tesla may well be one of them. [1] Links from 8 to 14 in this Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_car#cite_note-idsia-8 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_car#cite_note-idsia-... [2] http://phys.org/news/2013-03-japan-group-fuel-saving-driverless-trucks.html http://phys.org/news/2013-03-japan-group-fuel-saving-driverl...
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  Not to mention, what is the point where Google just has their fingers in too many places?
loceng 13y ago
Google will put a markup on licensing. If Tesla owns technology and produces it, they can a) have it free for their own cars, b) license it out and compete with Google's pricing. Tesla's model is so successful because they keep everything in-house, therefore there aren't tons of profit layers added onto production and distribution.
- RyanMcGreal 13y ago
  I can't wait for the autonomous car manufacturers to start suing the crap out of each other for patent infringement. And by "can't wait for" I mean "dread".
  - w_t_payne 13y ago
    A real possibility. Probable, even.
- w_t_payne 13y ago
  Or they can simply buy the technology from Continental. (Disclaimer: I work on ADAS systems for Conti).
- dm2 13y ago
  Google probably has close to a million miles of self-driving car experience by now, Tesla is several years behind Google in this field. I'd be willing to bet that they were planning some sort of partnership. This isn't a technology that you want to get wrong, and once other vehicle manufacturers start offering a comparable electric car (soon) then Tesla will need to have something to differentiate themselves.

I really hope they partner with Google on this, at least I can't think of any reason not to.

by Zikes 13y ago

I really hope they partner with Google on this, at least I can't think of any reason not to.

I was thinking the opposite. Competition is good and there isn't any obvious competition to Google in the self-driving car space.

Permit 13y ago
There is actually a reasonable amount of competition within the autonomous car space. A lot of people online only ever hear about Google's initiatives, but Audi, BMW et al. are building driving systems, some of which approach 100+ km/h.[1] I definitely agree that more competition in the area is good. Hopefully as more players build these systems, they'll continue to improve and be commercialized quicker. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_car#2010s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_car#2010s
- MartinCron 13y ago
  That's why I added "obvious", because even though there are a lot of autonomous efforts (large and small) from other companies, Google seems to be getting all of the attention.
  - w_t_payne 13y ago
    Well, Google did hire the people who won the DARPA Grand Challenge(s): http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Team-Behind-Google-s-Autonomous-Cars-Project-and-Details-About-the-Experiments-160321.shtml http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Team-Behind-Google-s-Auto...
aylons 13y ago
Actually, several manufacturers have self-driving car projects[1]. some of them are even field-testing them in real-life situations, such as a driven leader truck being followed by other trucks[2]. So, I don't think it lacks competition for Google, who doesn't even build their cars - most probably they'll license the technology for other companies, and Tesla may well be one of them. [1] Links from 8 to 14 in this Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_car#cite_note-idsia-8 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_car#cite_note-idsia-... [2] http://phys.org/news/2013-03-japan-group-fuel-saving-driverless-trucks.html http://phys.org/news/2013-03-japan-group-fuel-saving-driverl...
sliverstorm 13y ago
Not to mention, what is the point where Google just has their fingers in too many places?

loceng 13y ago

Google will put a markup on licensing. If Tesla owns technology and produces it, they can a) have it free for their own cars, b) license it out and compete with Google's pricing. Tesla's model is so successful because they keep everything in-house, therefore there aren't tons of profit layers added onto production and distribution.

RyanMcGreal 13y ago
I can't wait for the autonomous car manufacturers to start suing the crap out of each other for patent infringement. And by "can't wait for" I mean "dread".
- w_t_payne 13y ago
  A real possibility. Probable, even.
w_t_payne 13y ago
Or they can simply buy the technology from Continental. (Disclaimer: I work on ADAS systems for Conti).
dm2 13y ago
Google probably has close to a million miles of self-driving car experience by now, Tesla is several years behind Google in this field. I'd be willing to bet that they were planning some sort of partnership. This isn't a technology that you want to get wrong, and once other vehicle manufacturers start offering a comparable electric car (soon) then Tesla will need to have something to differentiate themselves.