Thread: Autonomous Vehicles

At least Tesla was somewhat honest and stated that driver attention is required in auto mode.

The concern is really the use of statistics re: 1 fatality in 130 million k's for auto drive cars vs. 1 every 98 for 'normal' cars to justify the tech.

AFAIK the tech is only being used on highways.

Imagine if it became widespread in Oz? Where young female drivers already freely text on their way home from work, driving into the sun on a highway, and then get on secondary roads or worse with the car on auto?

Strange days, DL

Reminds me of the times they were going to fly aircrat with one pilot and a dog on the flightdeck.

Pilot was there to feed the dog, dog was to make sure the pilot didn't touch the controls.


Martyn

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

A friend of mine has a new Subaru Forrester with all the bells and whistles including proximity sensors and cameras.

He said driving along the M1 in Qld , the car has already taken control off him when another vehicle has swerved across him too close for the sensors but what we would normally take for granted.

It has also not allowed him to apply power when trying to accelerate to merge from a slip lane onto the M1 because it senses other traffic travelling faster.

He has to turn it off in denser traffic because it is continually trying to "avoid" an accident.

What's the point of having sensor controls like that?.......and he's just set off on a trip towing a caravan. Will be interesting to talk to him when gets back.

I use a very sophisticated device that lays on the back seat of my RRC to make similar complex decisions.

He weighs 58 kgs, speaks fluent Labradorian. and always seems to go in sleep mode when mobile, so I gather he is reasonably confident that the 'primary decision maker' doesn't malfunction very often.

DL

I guess the really scary thing going into the future is the 'given' reliance on technology that basically absolves young people from gaining common sense , or space / time recognition or the ability to genetically pass on the ability to learn and develop such traits.

The 'given' is happening because it is well marketed as fashionable to have the latest tech stuff, the corporate world is very good at setting aspirations and social media only reinforces it.

DL

Originally Posted by V8Ian

The Anglia proved more reliable.

The electrics in my Anglia were by Lucas Prince of Darkness. Need I say more?

Originally Posted by Bushie

Reminds me of the times they were going to fly aircrat with one pilot and a dog on the flightdeck.

Pilot was there to feed the dog, dog was to make sure the pilot didn't touch the controls.


Martyn

It's interesting that for some time now newer Liners have had the ability to steam into port autonomously yet they are still required to take a Pilot onboard and be assisted by Tugs.

I think the unions have something to do with this.

Like my recollection of the man with the red flag who used to walk in front of the engines at the Gabba trainyards when I was a Kid.

Or the bloke with the flag at railway stations.

This is why all the newer rail systems have exclusion walls at the stations, so no flagman.

Regards Philip A

No Philip. I don't think the unions have anything to do with it. The Insurance Companies and nervous Officials would be the reason. I suspect.

There is also the International Law which states that a Vessel under way must have someone keeping watch at all times. Unless you have a Local Knowledge Certificate you are not able to keep effective watch.

A Pilot is still required also because local Authorities need to be satisfied that the Ship is stable and all of its Manoeuvring Machinery are functioning normally.

A Chase Boat is required because of the number of pleasure craft that can be found on Sydney Harbour and the incidents that have occurred in the past.

Tugs are required because Sydney's weather can turn very windy very quickly and Liners Have a very high Gross/Dead weight Tonnage ratio.

And we want to take control from the driver and give it to the technology!

Drone accidents mostly caused by technical problems, not operator error, research shows - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)