4 ms·

"You don't think farm equipment has to navigate unexpected hazards or coordinate with other moving equipment or people?" Nope, they don't need to worry about t

"You don't think farm equipment has to navigate unexpected hazards or coordinate with other moving equipment or people?" Nope, they don't need to worry about those things. Self driving cars and tractors adhere to ISO-25119 and within that, tractors adhere to agricultural performance level which doesn't have the same risk. Self driving tractors are required to have an operator in the cab and they are not allowed on public roadways with "auto guidance" engaged. I work for Case New Holland - John Deere competitor.

msandford 11y ago
It would seem that at 10mph all you really need are some sensors looking forward that have the ability to provide enough warning that the vehicle can stop before it hits an obstruction. Kind of like the auto-brakes that some cars have. That's a lot different than having a car which can at 70mph successfully swerve enough to avoid a wreck while still not swerving so far as to cause another wreck.
- jessaustin 11y ago
  I agree with the larger point that robotractors have an easier job, but I really wonder how close we are to a robocar "which can at 70mph successfully swerve enough to avoid a wreck while still not swerving so far as to cause another wreck."
  - Tloewald 11y ago
    I think there was some discussion about the ethics of the software in google's cars because they would solve driving problems with a view to minimizing harm to all involved, not merely the car's occupants. So I think this kind of thing is very much in development, and indeed more sophisticated than that (e.g. The car might swerve into another vehicle to avoid hitting pedestrians).
  - msandford 11y ago
    Ah, forgive me. I wasn't suggesting that such a robotic car exists already. More that successfully navigating such a situation on a freeway would be an acceptance test that I would like to insist on before entrusting my life to one, and would DEFINITELY insist upon prior to purchasing one. Were I in need of a self-driving tractor given the much lower speeds and whatnot I might be much more willing to accept a fairly primitive autopilot rather than something truly self-driving. Freeing me from needing to constantly be on the alert to keep a combine from straying from the optimal path is far, far more important that something that'll drive itself from the barn to the diesel pump and then onwards to the field. Were I wealthy enough to afford so much land to where owning such a vehicle was necessary then either driving it myself or hiring someone else to handle that would be entirely reasonable.
  - NeutronBoy 11y ago
    > but I really wonder how close we are to a robocar "which can at 70mph successfully swerve enough to avoid a wreck while still not swerving so far as to cause another wreck." Automated cars can already do this far more reliably than your average driver.

msandford 11y ago

It would seem that at 10mph all you really need are some sensors looking forward that have the ability to provide enough warning that the vehicle can stop before it hits an obstruction. Kind of like the auto-brakes that some cars have. That's a lot different than having a car which can at 70mph successfully swerve enough to avoid a wreck while still not swerving so far as to cause another wreck.

jessaustin 11y ago
I agree with the larger point that robotractors have an easier job, but I really wonder how close we are to a robocar "which can at 70mph successfully swerve enough to avoid a wreck while still not swerving so far as to cause another wreck."
- Tloewald 11y ago
  I think there was some discussion about the ethics of the software in google's cars because they would solve driving problems with a view to minimizing harm to all involved, not merely the car's occupants. So I think this kind of thing is very much in development, and indeed more sophisticated than that (e.g. The car might swerve into another vehicle to avoid hitting pedestrians).
- msandford 11y ago
  Ah, forgive me. I wasn't suggesting that such a robotic car exists already. More that successfully navigating such a situation on a freeway would be an acceptance test that I would like to insist on before entrusting my life to one, and would DEFINITELY insist upon prior to purchasing one. Were I in need of a self-driving tractor given the much lower speeds and whatnot I might be much more willing to accept a fairly primitive autopilot rather than something truly self-driving. Freeing me from needing to constantly be on the alert to keep a combine from straying from the optimal path is far, far more important that something that'll drive itself from the barn to the diesel pump and then onwards to the field. Were I wealthy enough to afford so much land to where owning such a vehicle was necessary then either driving it myself or hiring someone else to handle that would be entirely reasonable.
- NeutronBoy 11y ago
  > but I really wonder how close we are to a robocar "which can at 70mph successfully swerve enough to avoid a wreck while still not swerving so far as to cause another wreck." Automated cars can already do this far more reliably than your average driver.