Comments on: Driverless vehicles to zip at full speed through intersections

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 16:56:14 +0000

Hey thanks, I’m upgrading to 3.2! Hot damn! :=>

By: tim the realist

tim the realist — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 15:59:27 +0000

Maybe you should stop running windows 3.1. My computer has not crashed for >10 years. When was the last time windows crashed on your computer?

By: Heikos

Heikos — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:41:42 +0000

I think you vastly underestimate the flexibilty of your own brain. I think you will get used to it. And fast.

By: Johnny5

Johnny5 — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:16:44 +0000

These jokes are so old… I don’t think they are considered jokes anymore. I think they are just garbled text thrown up by a sea urchin.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:43:06 +0000

It would only require the same API, we don’t do too bad a job with standards in computing. In regards to cyclists, this is actually a perfect example where it would be beneficial. The intersection controls the walk/cross lights too, not like it doesn’t know which way is safe.

By: Editor

Editor — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 01:34:01 +0000

The “Blue Screen of Death” — literally :)

By: Vin

Vin — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:53:31 +0000

If the software runs on windows, i’m never going out again.

By: Vin

Vin — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:47:06 +0000

Just equip pedestrians with a pogo-stick exoskeleton that will interface with the same intersection control software for the triggering. It would become like tech enhanced version of Parkour.

By: Cam

Cam — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 22:33:49 +0000

Hmm… I think perhaps they are overlooking that every car would need the same system. Who forces all individuals to submit their vehicles to this type of control?
What about bicycles etc travelling through those same intersections.

By: Dwight

Dwight — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:46:32 +0000

I suppose one way to do it would be to ramp up the system over a fairly long period of time. In other words, at the onset of implementing the traffic control system, have it go really slowly, making people accustomed to it. Then after a month or so, bring up the speed be a barely perceivable amount. After a matter of a couple years of the slow climb to top speed, nerves likely wouldn’t get so rattled by it. At the same time, the ramp up would give a good opportunity for the software developers to iron out the imperfections in a reasonably safe, slow speed setting. Sure, it may take a while, but things like this must be considered when we talk about making the switch to a driverless world. Even if it’s safer, it is sure going to feel scary as hell.

By: Bob Vasquez

Bob Vasquez — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:43:07 +0000

Just black-out the windows! Oh, yeah, I almost hit a cat the other day; well, if we can see a cat we won’t know that we hit it.

By: JC

JC — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:10:46 +0000

Young passengers who grew up with this system in place would probably be able to sit calmly through the near misses. Virtual training would probably work for calming down older passengers-in-training. Nearly everyone is now calm about plane takeoff and landing, which is a very threatening visual event. The cars would have to be built to keep people alive in the event of a 100 mph crash. Otherwise even though the average number of crash casualties would drop hugely, any person might be the target of a murder/terrorism attempt via a hack of the intersection controlling code. I think that is the biggest PR challenge this will face.

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:53:51 +0000

You always gotta point, Satan! Can’t wait!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YikK1uVtNok

By: Dwight

Dwight — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:12:28 +0000

I don’t know how well it would go over. Sure, it could be 100% safe, but everybody’s gut reaction would be “Holy %&#$!!! I’m gonna die! I’m gonna die!”

Not kidding, either. It would take me YEARS to adjust to flying headlong into traffic at top speeds. I think for the sake of everybody’s psyche, they should make the cars carry out a more traditional intersection behavior. Or black out the windows.

By: Satan

Satan — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:40:57 +0000

Who would buy a car that stopped for old ladies? The absence of the feature is the feature.

By: Krümelmonster

Krümelmonster — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:10:47 +0000

I agree that the system will need to account for failures. But im sure that still if there are accidents, the total number of accidents will be smaller than today with less damage per accident. Because the system can monitor every vehicle and a computer is faster than any human in detecting and responding to any deviance.

Ok, if the overall speed is higher the damage claim may be not true.

By: Rob B

Rob B — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:06:35 +0000

They’ve been doing this for years in S.E Asia ;)

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Are you going to move somewhere without intersections?! The Unabomber would be proud.

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:50:52 +0000

Old ladies?

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:49:50 +0000

Helping old ladies across the street are becoming an ever MORE heroic act!

By: Satan

Satan — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:13:30 +0000

You guys better contact these silly researchers and inform them what they have completely over looked! that was a close call…

By: gaoptimize

gaoptimize — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:12:04 +0000

I will not be an early adopter of this technology.

By: tim the realist

tim the realist — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:36:55 +0000

in high traffic conditions slower speed through intersections makes sense. when you are the only car going through by a wide margin, there is no reason to slow down.
This system will also have to provide for ways to stop traffic completely for pedestrians.

there is a full range of possible safe speeds in between these 2 extremes based on conditions

By: Jay Bob

Jay Bob — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:31:03 +0000

No, they won’t.
Even if we can take the human factor out of the picture, the algorithm will have to take into account mechanical failures as well as automation failures, combined with the law of inertia.

You don’t want a catastrophic accident just because a car happened to suddenly fail at the middle of an intersection.
They’ll have to slow down a bit.