Uber Has Started to Use Self-Driving Cars for Their Service

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

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Looks like it's already an option in SanFrancisco, read more and see video here. http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/14/13921514/uber-self-driving-car-san-francisco-launch-volvo-xc90

For the last few months, Uber’s self-driving cars have been prowling the streets of San Francisco, forecasting the inevitable moment when the ride-hailing giant starts inviting passengers to take autonomous trips in the city where it first launched over seven years ago. That moment has finally arrived.

Starting today, anyone in San Francisco who hails an UberX could find themselves in the backseat of a luxury, self-driving Volvo XC90, complete with leather interior, spinning LIDAR sensor, and a trunk full of computing power. It’s where I found myself last week, after being invited out to the Bay Area for a sneak peak before the official launch.
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I'm sure that self driving cars are going to become the norm. In the interim, and during the transition, there will certainly be some major upgrades in such systems, as the designers and developers learn to overcome the failures in human driven cars sharing the road....drunks, cell phone users, etc.,etc. The development of this technology will be interesting to watch. I hope it is perfected by the time I have to give up my drivers license...it would be nice to just relax and tell the car where to go, and get there safely.
 

This thread reminded me of a true story. Years ago when horses were still in use a local brewery owner and his wife used to go to the brewery each morning in a one horse carriage. The stable boys at the brewery took care of the horse and at night when it was time to leave they would get the carriage ready and the old couple would start for home. They would usually stop to patronize one or more of the local saloons that served their brand of beer and eventually they would climb back into the carriage and nod off. The old horse would slowly make his way up the long steep hill to their home, stopping here and there for a nibble of grass or a drink of water. As the carriage went by the grand homes on the way up the hill it was said that you could often see a hand or a curtain flutter in a window as they went by. Maybe what is old will be new again, LOL!
 
I'll confess I don't know anything about them, which is why the idea terrifies me. I'll have to read up on them. Just the idea of a child or an animal darting out from between parked cars- usually we see it in time to avoid, but how will the car "know"?

I just can't imagine.
 
RadishRose said:
I'll confess I don't know anything about them, which is why the idea terrifies me. I'll have to read up on them. Just the idea of a child or an animal darting out from between parked cars- usually we see it in time to avoid, but how will the car "know"?

I just can't imagine.
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I think the car will be much better at it in most situations because the car won't be distracted by the radio, texts, tweets, eating lunch,sipping coffee, putting on makeup and a whole host of other things. The transition concerns me a little bit but we'll get through it just like they did when they went from horses to automobiles. Maybe we'll even get to take to the air!

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I spent most of my working years in various jobs in the auto industry. One thing that I learned is that man made products do fail. When I worked at a Rolls Royce dealership there were Rolls in the repair shop, There were also Mercedes since they sold both.

Will the driverless car that is taking Grandma to the Doctor have a "panic button" in case it malfunctions?
 
Aunt Bea said:
I think the car will be much better at it in most situations because the car won't be distracted by the radio, texts, tweets, eating lunch,sipping coffee, putting on makeup and a whole host of other things. The transition concerns me a little bit but we'll get through it just like they did when they went from horses to automobiles. Maybe we'll even get to take to the air!
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But they are far from perfect. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/business/self-driving-tesla-fatal-crash-investigation.html?_r=0
 
Jeez, I don't even like the idea of the newer cars that will automatically hit the brake for the driver........so there ain't no way in hell I'd hop in a vehicle with no driver.
 
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