Smart Cars, Wave of the Future?

fureverywhere

fureverywhere

beloved friend who will always be with us in spiri
Location
Northern NJ, USA
The first thing that pops in my head is The Jetsons. But I was just scanning a Time article about driverless cars. I just can't quite figure out how that would work in the real world. I mean would they be on the road with regular cars too? Or maybe they're imagining all cars turning automatic eventually.

I dunno, especially as seniors...would give up your right to drive? Do you feel like I do that you doubt the safety of a machine taking over the road on it's own? I mean I'm the person everybody is beeping out of the way for driving too slow. It's possible the car could maneuver better on it's own, at least maintain it's speed.

But where we live is heavy traffic almost around the clock. Everything you've heard about Jersey drivers is true. Anger management should be mandatory every time you renew your license. Picture three full lanes approaching a red light. A least two cars are weaving both sides to get up to the front, other people are laying on their horns.

There are cars near the light moving to block the cars that are trying to cut the line. There's probably a few pedestrians and bike riders in there. Then the sirens start, there's a police car and ambulance trying to come up the back. But no one can pull over. Would a smart car be able to navigate a scene like that?
 

fureverywhere said:
The first thing that pops in my head is The Jetsons. But I was just scanning a Time article about driverless cars. I just can't quite figure out how that would work in the real world. I mean would they be on the road with regular cars too? Or maybe they're imagining all cars turning automatic eventually.

I dunno, especially as seniors...would give up your right to drive? Do you feel like I do that you doubt the safety of a machine taking over the road on it's own? I mean I'm the person everybody is beeping out of the way for driving too slow. It's possible the car could maneuver better on it's own, at least maintain it's speed.

But where we live is heavy traffic almost around the clock. Everything you've heard about Jersey drivers is true. Anger management should be mandatory every time you renew your license. Picture three full lanes approaching a red light. A least two cars are weaving both sides to get up to the front, other people are laying on their horns.

There are cars near the light moving to block the cars that are trying to cut the line. There's probably a few pedestrians and bike riders in there. Then the sirens start, there's a police car and ambulance trying to come up the back. But no one can pull over. Would a smart car be able to navigate a scene like that?
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I swear it's anything to make you have to buy something new ..or it feels like it these days
 
Driverless cars operate sort of like a Rumba - you know those tiny vacuum cleaners that navigate around a room? You program the car, entering your destination, and it maps out and follows the best route. It takes the appropriate evasive action when it comes within so many feet of another vehicle (and it knows whether that's a truck or car), or if it gets too close to an obstacle such as a building, the shoulder of the road, a pot-hole, etc. It can even lock-down when it senses a car-jacking or whatever.

One article I read said it will go into production, after thorough trials and safety tests, in the next next 3 - 5 years, providing it can be produced and marketed at a reasonable price. I think they're awesome!
 

But like I said if it was faced with multi-obstacles, possibly within seconds of each other, would it still know what to do?
 
fureverywhere said:
But like I said if it was faced with multi-obstacles, possibly within seconds of each other, would it still know what to do?
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They're working on that. The aim is to program the car to respond to all conceivable obstacles in all conceivable situations, as well as up-to-the-minute weather conditions.
 
I want them to take a smart car on the New Jersey turnpike. If it comes back even in pieces resembling car parts they might be on to something.
 
Smart cars may well be the norm in the future, but that technology is in its infancy at present. Google reported that one of its smart cars was involved in a minor fender bender yesterday due to an obstruction in the road that required the car to change lanes...and it had a minor impact with a bus.

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/83179.html?rss=1

Perhaps in 10 or 20 years this technology may be the norm on the highways. What will be interesting will be the period of transition where there are a mix of driven and driverless cars competing for the road. Road rage will probably spike.
 
Don M. said:
Smart cars may well be the norm in the future, but that technology is in its infancy at present. Google reported that one of its smart cars was involved in a minor fender bender yesterday due to an obstruction in the road that required the car to change lanes...and it had a minor impact with a bus.

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/83179.html?rss=1

Perhaps in 10 or 20 years this technology may be the norm on the highways. What will be interesting will be the period of transition where there are a mix of driven and driverless cars competing for the road. Road rage will probably spike.
Click to expand...

Yep, I expect drivers will take advantage, like cutting in front of the smart car knowing it will avoid a collision. Smart cars ~v~ stupid drivers.
 
How much would a car like that cost though??? Betcha it would be so expensive the people who would benefit from it the most wouldn't be able to afford one. And I worry too about multiple cars approaching on collision course from 2 different angles. :confused:

MA isn't as bad as Jersey but almost. And what if a driver opens their door against the flow of traffic on a busy street? Would the smartcar stop short?
 
Many of these concepts are already being implemented....self parking cars, collision avoidance/automatic braking, etc. Artificial intelligence capabilities are doubling almost every year, and it won't be more than a decade or two before computers can "out think" humans. Cost should not be much of a factor, as computer chips and sensors, etc., are becoming cheaper....in fact, overall costs of owning such a vehicle may actually decrease, since insurance premiums would probably decline substantially due to lack of accidents.

These kinds of vehicles would sure be a boon to a lot of currently "house bound" Seniors....who could begin to get out a bit more if they can just hobble to/from their vehicle. It would almost be like having their own personal Taxi Driver.
 
I guess it depends on where you're driving too. I remember when we lived in PA there were miles and miles of back roads. Even if you barreled off the road you'd end up in a field...might hit a cow, but almost no traffic. But in really busy congested city streets, I can't see a car being that smart. But then who knows...
 

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