Thread: Autonomous Vehicles

The typical bus driver performs more than just the task of driving. For example, they also play a role in security. Cameras dont stop people from getting hurt as well as a driver can.

Once they take the chaperone out, what happens if someone needs the bus to stop? Or whatever? A hoard of people are stuck on something they cant communicate very well with.

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

...isn't it exciting...yeah right.

With ya there, bro.

I wonder who will win the AC/DC Supercars programmers championship? Oh, and which BCU will be crowned "King of the Mountain" at the Bathurst 400?

Originally Posted by rammypluge

The typical bus driver performs more than just the task of driving. For example, they also play a role in security. Cameras dont stop people from getting hurt as well as a driver can.

The "typical bus driver" could be a new immigrant with minimal language training, tired, drugged, ancient, tiny and female, etc etc. You want a human to do security these days you hire a human trained to do security.

Originally Posted by rammypluge

Once they take the chaperone out, what happens if someone needs the bus to stop? Or whatever? A hoard of people are stuck on something they cant communicate very well with.

Humans communicate with machines all the time, why should an advanced 21st century machine be incapable of accepting instructions? I distinctly remember human bus drivers sailing past bus stops even though someone had pulled the beg cord, or suddenly drive up the wrong route because his mind was on other things.

Imagining an autonomous bus without human activated controls is like imagining lifts in buildings without buttons and door sensors, ludicrous. Where are the human lift operators of the 1960's? Redundant. One day bus drivers will be too.

Originally Posted by rammypluge

The typical bus driver performs more than just the task of driving. For example, they also play a role in security. Cameras dont stop people from getting hurt as well as a driver can.

Once they take the chaperone out, what happens if someone needs the bus to stop? Or whatever? A hoard of people are stuck on something they cant communicate very well with.

As noted, drivers will generally not even try and get involved, so no use there. While CCTV may not stop someone doing something - on public transport it isn't hard to have the Police waiting at the next stop - that happens all the time now anyway.

As to stopping the bus - press the stop button, same as a train in an emergency...

No use whinging about it, it is coming like it or not. There will be teething issues, it may be slower to roll out than some think or want, but it is coming. The Luddites thought they could stop progress - they were wrong. This is basically the same - the next big jump - it scares sure, maybe even rightly so in some instances, but that won't stop it either - there is money to be made and that will alwyas win over anything else. Time to make your peace and get used to it - it will be much easier - kind of like accepting that China will be our rulers and overloads within 2 decades, just roll with it.

Ask Elon Musk, who has found out the hard way, for some tasks people are more versatile and cheaper than robots. The $60k a bus driver will cost you can easily be equalled by a highly trained contractor tasked with keeping complex systems up and running, and that is to replace just one of the many functions a bus driver performs.

Do management ever want information on road and traffic conditions and changes, on the mechanical condition of the bus, on patterns of usage.

What about a young girl wanting to get on but its empty, late at night and she is worried about who might get on next.

Some uses of technology are great. Smartphones are phenomenally awesome. But some things are becoming too complex, too expensive, less functional, less versatile and less reliable.

Originally Posted by rammypluge

Ask Elon Musk, who has found out the hard way, for some tasks people are more versatile and cheaper than robots. The $60k a bus driver will cost you can easily be equalled by a highly trained contractor tasked with keeping complex systems up and running, and that is to replace just one of the many functions a bus driver performs.

Smart people are worth their weight in shiny stuff but most ordinary people are replaceable.

Originally Posted by rammypluge

Do management ever want information on road and traffic conditions and changes, on the mechanical condition of the bus, on patterns of usage.

A vehicle stuffed with sensors and communications links will have no problems reporting every problem as it appears.

Originally Posted by rammypluge

What about a young girl wanting to get on but its empty, late at night and she is worried about who might get on next.

People get bashed up on Darwin buses right now, kids have always been at risk in multiple situations. See above for the bit about communication and sensors galore, including internal cameras.

Originally Posted by rammypluge

Some uses of technology are great. Smartphones are phenomenally awesome. But some things are becoming too complex, too expensive, less functional, less versatile and less reliable.

Debatable. Underperforming technology is either upgraded or replaced with better stuff, there are very few places where humans are irreplaceable.

Originally Posted by bee utey

Smart people are worth their weight in shiny stuff but most ordinary people are replaceable.



A vehicle stuffed with sensors and communications links will have no problems reporting every problem as it appears.



People get bashed up on Darwin buses right now, kids have always been at risk in multiple situations. See above for the bit about communication and sensors galore, including internal cameras.



Debatable. Underperforming technology is either upgraded or replaced with better stuff, there are very few places where humans are irreplaceable.

So what is the point of us then ? Will we all become mega brains performing amazing feats of intellectual prowess , or roaming the universe as in star trek? Doubt it , there will be redundant people everywhere, so to plan for this will we stop breeding or find a way to cull the masses ?

Cull the masses isn't a bad idea. Population growth can't continue unabated forever. Mother nature will kill everyone off as soon as she's had enough anyway - we aren't far off that I don't think.