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[Varche]

I see one did a journey of around 230 miles in UK the other day without manual intervention other than charging hook up half way. Mix of roads including motorway. Clearly progress is being made and room for more to come.

The question I would ask is how does an autonomous car deal with those situations that are difficult? One springs to mind. There is a dual and three lane roundabout near us that is really big and busy. The only way on is to expertly judge a way in and sometimes hope for a person not to hit you. I am sure everyone knows of a similar roundabout.  An autonomous car waiting for a safe entry might create a huge tail back. On the plus side a god mix of autonomous cars might slow the racers on such roundabouts.

The other scenario is does it adjust its speed to the prevailing conditions or gaily do just below the legal limit. I am thinking those scenarios where 10 mph is fast on packed snow or thick fog.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Dunno and don't care. I would rather stick my thumbs up my @rse and walk on my elbows, than be carted around in one of those things.
Its all about removing individual freedom.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Don't think they will happen any time soon. However, in a few years time when I'm sat in the corner dribbling into a cardigan with wooden buttons, they may have some appeal.

[aaronjb]

How do they deal? Well, I believe BMW & Porsche have already said that in a situation where it is "driver vs bystander" their cars will choose to protect the driver.. so I imagine they'll drive like the average BMW and plough on out

[Varche]

How do they deal? Well, I believe BMW & Porsche have already said that in a situation where it is "driver vs bystander" their cars will choose to protect the driver.. so I imagine they'll drive like the average BMW and plough on out

You may be spot on. The next car sees a car come out and slows down a bit ( unlike a BMW driver that automatically speeds up.) Good drivers Let One Out.

[Doctor Gollum]

They will all have to be programmed to operate within the laws of the country in which they are operating, so in that regard, ought to be safer as drones than as forty million individuals.

That said, the chances are that the programming will only be as good as the sandal wearing, non driving pot headed vegan that writes them. So all bets are off... 

[Viral_Jim]

Its all about removing individual freedom.

That depends on your perspective. For old people in rural areas, where taxis are hugely expensive, and busses largely non-existant, I imagine an autonomous car could help them keep their personal freedom and stay in their homes much longer.

Having lived in these types of locations growing up, you see plenty of people forced to move when they hang up their car keys.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Its ultimately legistation and the practicalities, not the technology that will inhibit / hold back autonomy. As above the scenario of 'kill two occupants or three at the bus stop' all need hammering out. Then when EVERY possible scenario has been worked out, deliberated by every single government in the world, who allow/disallow what the OEMs have decided, then the autonomous car will appear on the roads.... except they will get hacked. Hacking an RAF Typhoon aint so easy, not so much because the tech is impossible, but because no terrorist can get their hands on one for a weekend to dismantle and fiddle with...not so with your average car in the car park.

We still don't have 'theft proof' cars, 30+ years after immobilisers/deadlocks and so on, so hack proof, death-proof autonomous cars, well... its a lot further off than many people think. Again, its not the tech, but the implementation thats the killer.


PS thats before we hit something which may be totally unexpected... people may not actually take to the idea as much as people think...Amazon Kindle anyone? Death of the book, forever? Hmmm.... 

[Sir Tigger KC]

I see one did a journey of around 230 miles in UK the other day without manual intervention other than charging hook up half way. Mix of roads including motorway. Clearly progress is being made and room for more to come.

The question I would ask is how does an autonomous car deal with those situations that are difficult? One springs to mind. There is a dual and three lane roundabout near us that is really big and busy. The only way on is to expertly judge a way in and sometimes hope for a person not to hit you. I am sure everyone knows of a similar roundabout. An autonomous car waiting for a safe entry might create a huge tail back. On the plus side a god mix of autonomous cars might slow the racers on such roundabouts.

The other scenario is does it adjust its speed to the prevailing conditions or gaily do just below the legal limit. I am thinking those scenarios where 10 mph is fast on packed snow or thick fog.

Alternatively, they might be so clever that they can judge the gap to the Nth degree and zip out into the traffic much faster and safer than humans can. 

[Bigron]

"zip out into the traffic much faster and safer than humans can" - sorry Sir Tigger, but no; they will be programmed to be risk-averse.

Ron.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Its all about removing individual freedom.

That depends on your perspective. For old people in rural areas, where taxis are hugely expensive, and busses largely non-existant, I imagine an autonomous car could help them keep their personal freedom and stay in their homes much longer.

Having lived in these types of locations growing up, you see plenty of people forced to move when they hang up their car keys.

I very much live in such a location now, and am fast approaching being elderly - well Im now in my 60,s. I will still detest them on principle if I get too old to drive. As a taxpayer, and believer in small state and self reliance, I would still rather see subsidised taxis for such people than see society carry on in the current direction of travel.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Its all about removing individual freedom.

That depends on your perspective. For old people in rural areas, where taxis are hugely expensive, and busses largely non-existant, I imagine an autonomous car could help them keep their personal freedom and stay in their homes much longer.

Having lived in these types of locations growing up, you see plenty of people forced to move when they hang up their car keys.

I very much live in such a location now, and am fast approaching being elderly - well Im now in my 60,s. I will still detest them on principle if I get too old to drive. As a taxpayer, and believer in small state and self reliance, I would still rather see subsidised taxis for such people than see society carry on in the current direction of travel.

Mr Albitz is well to the right of 'nancy boy liberals' such as Vlad the Impaler and Ghenghis Khan.

He tells he would make a 'benign dictator'

[Doctor Gollum]

Its all about removing individual freedom.

That depends on your perspective. For old people in rural areas, where taxis are hugely expensive, and busses largely non-existant, I imagine an autonomous car could help them keep their personal freedom and stay in their homes much longer.

Having lived in these types of locations growing up, you see plenty of people forced to move when they hang up their car keys.

I very much live in such a location now, and am fast approaching being elderly - well Im now in my 60,s. I will still detest them on principle if I get too old to drive. As a taxpayer, and believer in small state and self reliance, I would still rather see subsidised taxis for such people than see society carry on in the current direction of travel.

We have a membership based payg minibus service, also pretty well connected with buses and a mainline railway station. At the very least, anywhere we move to has to be a stones throw from a bus stop or near family.

[Varche]

People rail at any change. I dare say people railed at cars when introduced  saying “ over my dead body , rather go by horse and carriage” dead body is the operative phrase. We stick in the muds remembering the true golden age of motoring( the late 70,s ?) will soon be pushing up daisies.

The youth of today wont care how they get from A to B so long as they can be immersed in their mobile phones.

I am thinking autonomous cars will have sensors and slow down and signal to waiting cars “ come out”.

[Doctor Gollum]

That last point would be completely contrary to the Highway code