Let’s Talk About Self-Driving Cars

Re:Let’s Talk About Self-Driving Cars by coldtea on Tuesday January 10, 2017 @01:40PM (#13367570)

>I'll bet that in the near future (next decade or so), there will be rising incidents of traffic being blocked due to a stopped automated car who's driver is not responsive, but the computer couldn't handle some construction or weather, and went into fail-safe mode, simply slowing down and stopping (but not pulling over due to lack of space).

Obviously "do not stop in the middle on the road" will be high on the priorities of self driving algorithms...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Let’s Talk About Self-Driving Cars by jellicle on Tuesday January 10, 2017 @03:28PM (#13368669)

Why would that be? Self-driving cars should want to stay on the road in all cases.

The edge of the road is soft, not well marked, contains rocks and nails and housepets. The road proper is hard, well-marked, and vehicles should want to stay there always.

Of course this will occasionally result in inconvenience for other drivers as vehicle 1 has been stationary for 25 minutes now as it applies a mandatory software service pack. But, oh well. That is THEIR problem. It's obviously maximal for MY vehicle to stay on the road at all times.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Let’s Talk About Self-Driving Cars by coldtea on Tuesday January 10, 2017 @04:19PM (#13369102)

>Why would that be? Self-driving cars should want to stay on the road in all cases.

Self driving cars already know how to park and get out of the road.

The rest of the argument goes into bizarro land. Can't tell if trolling...

First, a stop vehicle in the middle on the road is a surefire way to a multi-car collision at worse, and traffic fines at best. Both of which would be avoided by any self driving algorithm not written (or approved if it's something like a neural network) by Harpo Marx.

Second, "It's obviously maximal for MY vehicle to stay on the road at all times" is not an argument, since self driving algorithms are not written and optimized for the car owners sole convenience but also for overall traffic, traffic regulations, and several other considerations besides...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Let’s Talk About Self-Driving Cars by beachstartup on Tuesday January 10, 2017 @01:46PM (#13367649)

yeah, just tell the autonomous 4000 pound missile that stopping is a low priority.

i fear much of the enthusiasm behind self-driving cars is from people who understand neither driving, nor computer software, very well.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Let’s Talk About Self-Driving Cars by wolfram74 on Tuesday January 10, 2017 @01:53PM (#13367722)

That feels like you're intentionally misinterpreting the suggestion. The implied solution is that a car would preferentially stop off to the side of the road, rather than the middle.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Let’s Talk About Self-Driving Cars by galdosdi on Tuesday January 10, 2017 @02:59PM (#13368387)

If there _is_ a valid and safe "side of the road"

There are places where it takes some skill just to comply with an officer's request for you to pull over. Not everywhere is a bunch of standardized interstates.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Let’s Talk About Self-Driving Cars by coldtea on Tuesday January 10, 2017 @04:25PM (#13369174)

That's what we are saying.

Have the car GO and find a suitable area. Driving for a few more km perhaps slower and with the alarm lights flashing to find a spot to stop, will surely be safer than stopping right then and there just because you can't find a convenient place to pull out.

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Re:Let’s Talk About Self-Driving Cars by coldtea on Tuesday January 10, 2017 @04:23PM (#13369142)

>yeah, just tell the autonomous 4000 pound missile that stopping is a low priority.

Lower priority than stopping then and there in the middle of the road/interstate (as suggested by parent) as opposed to a service/rest-area/shoulder/side of the road/etc...

[ Parent | on HN ]