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Google Gets Driver(less) License

C

Crono

Lifer
We knew it has been in the works for a while, but now Google has a license for their cars.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17989553#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

Google gets Nevada driving licence for self-drive car

Google has been experimenting with driverless Toyota Prius cars in the US
Driverless cars will soon be a reality on the roads of Nevada after the state approved America's first self-driven vehicle licence.
The first to hit the highway will be a Toyota Prius modified by search firm Google, which is leading the way in driverless car technology.
Its first drive included a spin down Las Vegas's famous strip.
Other car companies are also seeking self-driven car licences in Nevada.

The car uses video cameras mounted on the roof, radar sensors and a laser range finder to "see" other traffic. Engineers at Google have previously tested the car on the streets of California, including crossing San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge.

For those tests, the car remained manned at all times by a trained driver ready to take control if the software failed.
According to software engineer Sebastian Thrun, the car has covered 140,000 miles with no accidents, other than a bump at traffic lights from a car behind.

Bruce Breslow, director of Nevada's Department of Motor Vehicles, says he believes driverless vehicles are the "cars of the future". Nevada changed its laws to allow self-driven cars in March. The long-term plan is to license members of the public to drive such cars.

Google's car has been issued with a red licence plate to make it recognisable. The plate features an infinity sign next to the number 001. Other states, including California, are planning similar changes.

"The vast majority of vehicle accidents are due to human error," said California state Senator Alex Padilla, when he introduced the legislation. "Through the use of computers, sensors and other systems, an autonomous vehicle is capable of analysing the driving environment more quickly and operating the vehicle more safely."
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As someone who loves driving, I can't wait for this technology to catch on.

Want to go out to the mountains and enjoy the pleasures of blasting down a windy road? Go for it!

Want to drive through the city while checking your cellphone, texting your friends, and generally not paying attention? Switch to automatic mode and stop endangering everyone around you.
 
jagec said:
As someone who loves driving, I can't wait for this technology to catch on.

Want to go out to the mountains and enjoy the pleasures of blasting down a windy road? Go for it!

Want to drive through the city while checking your cellphone, texting your friends, and generally not paying attention? Switch to automatic mode and stop endangering everyone around you.
Click to expand...

I completely agree. It is high time we give the driving over to computers, and turn pleasure driving into a leisure activity preformed away from our congested city streets.

No one really enjoys being in control of their car while sitting in bumper to bumper traffic.
 
SMOGZINN said:
I completely agree. It is high time we give the driving over to computers, and turn pleasure driving into a leisure activity preformed away from our congested city streets.

No one really enjoys being in control of their car while sitting in bumper to bumper traffic.
Click to expand...

Computer controlled cars would probably reduce a lot of traffic, too. Less accidents, and especially traffic from "rubbernecking".
 
SMOGZINN said:
I completely agree. It is high time we give the driving over to computers, and turn pleasure driving into a leisure activity preformed away from our congested city streets.

No one really enjoys being in control of their car while sitting in bumper to bumper traffic.
Click to expand...

Yep. I've long-advocated that the only solution to erase traffic is to erase the human component. Cars and volume do not create traffic--people and their idiocy create traffic.

I'd love the ability to drive when one wants to drive, but have automated zones--commuter thoroughfares--during rush hour and other designated times.
 
Crono said:
Computer controlled cars would probably reduce a lot of traffic, too. Less accidents, and especially traffic from "rubbernecking".
Click to expand...

That is so annoying. Waiting a half hour on the highway, and when I finally pass the accident, the entire thing was far off the road, but traffic was backed up because every stupid retard just had to slow down and take a good look.
 
jagec said:
As someone who loves driving, I can't wait for this technology to catch on.

Want to go out to the mountains and enjoy the pleasures of blasting down a windy road? Go for it!

Want to drive through the city while checking your cellphone, texting your friends, and generally not paying attention? Switch to automatic mode and stop endangering everyone around you.
Click to expand...

Don't stop there, drunk out your ass, no problem just put it on auto-pilot and down a couple more. Want to get down and dirty with your woman, no problem just hit auto-pilot, then jump in the back seat and by the time you're done you'll be home. Kids screaming and fighting while you're cruising down the highway, no problem just hit auto-pilot, then swing around and smack the shit out them as you're flying down the fast lane.
 
"Open the passenger door HAL"
"I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that. I know that you and Frank were planning to extend my oil change interval beyond the recommended amount and I'm afraid that's something I simply cannot allow to happen."

ZV
 
I can't wait for this, I can't seem to ever get a job on a public transportation line so this will work for me.
 
images


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh2Ym7ehb8k&feature=related
 
Crono said:
Computer controlled cars would probably reduce a lot of traffic, too. Less accidents, and especially traffic from "rubbernecking".
Click to expand...

To truly take advantage of the computer controlled car, they would have to be networked and have a central planning center too. That would mean at lights, all the cars could start moving together instead of waiting on the one in front to move first. Heck if all the cars were computer controlled and there were no pedestrians, you might not even need lights. The cars would pass through the intersection with the correct spacing.
 
- How do these things deal with crashes? Let's say someone rear-ends an autocar that's stopped properly at an intersection. The autocar is now in the middle of the intersection, facing the same direction, but the light's still red. Start driving? Let's say it gets spun a bit so it's now facing 90° to one side. Now what?
Could it immediately analyze the damage and provide an instant insurance quote as well? :awe:

- How do they deal with a traffic light that's lost power?

- What's their threshold for animal avoidance? Sparrow? Squirrel? Cat? Corn snake? Badger?

- How do they deal with people being dicks, trying to confuse it?


Hopefully they've thought of these things, but I'm just curious. 🙂



JTsyo said:
To truly take advantage of the computer controlled car, they would have to be networked and have a central planning center too. That would mean at lights, all the cars could start moving together instead of waiting on the one in front to move first. Heck if all the cars were computer controlled and there were no pedestrians, you might not even need lights. The cars would pass through the intersection with the correct spacing.
Click to expand...
That could be like an amusement park ride, if they want to cut it really close. 😀
Speed through a 6-lane intersection at 120mph, while missing the cross traffic by about 1 foot.
 
Would love this... I'd plaster my windows with the "Why u mad tho" pic. Don't honk at me, I ain't driving mofos.
 
Fewer accidents, less congestion, better gas mileage from less stop-n-go, safer, no more DUIs or tired drivers, etc, etc....

Sign me up. I'd LOVE to be able to party downtown or tailgate at a game without having to worry about driving myself back home. Even better if the car can drop me off and go find its own parking spot.
 
I don't see it happening within 25 years at a minimum. We still have train engineers, and the rail system is much more easily controlled than our roadways.
But it is interesting to think about. RV's that drive non-stop to your destination. Tractor-trailers that don't stop for food/sleep. Freight companies are probably drooling at the potential savings in labor costs.
 
My biggest question relates to stuff on the road. That includes oil, or ice/snow.

I am sure the car understands the current road conditions based on the traction of the road just underneath the car, but what about oil, or black ice 50 feet in front of it.

Sure the car can drive in a straight line and measure distances between itself and the car in front of it, but what about the northern neighbors who deal with roads that are temporarily slick or where there has been something spilled on the road?

I am sure that people will still be held 100% accountable for the decisions made by their cars. Which means you will still have to be paying attention in any situation where the car wouldn't notice a problem but a human would.

This might be great in southwestern states, but Boston/New York? I don't think this will fly.
 
Gooberlx2 said:
Fewer accidents, less congestion, better gas mileage from less stop-n-go, safer, no more DUIs or tired drivers, etc, etc....

Sign me up. I'd LOVE to be able to party downtown or tailgate at a game without having to worry about driving myself back home. Even better if the car can drop me off and go find its own parking spot.
Click to expand...
The benefits of this are just amazing, people won't care about fast cars, it'll be economy, safety and comfort. As car designs revolve around the idea people aren't driving a lot of things could change. Get rid of the steering wheel? Move single drivers to the center of the car? Smaller windows->better roof support? What about mass transit with these things?

The list goes on and on.
 
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