Re:Volkswagen exec admits full self-driving cars 'may never ...
by dpflan on Saturday January 18, 2020 @03:12PM
(#22086814)
Yes, the tremendous capital influx into AV could probably support advances in trains and rail infrastructure. Yet, we will chase after this idea — it receives copious media attention because it is technically challenging and is “sci-fi” idealism that is hard to mitigate and feels like a good idea for society. Also, the investments seem like chasing after what everyone else is chasing after (FOMO); an automaker would find it difficult to “pivot” from vehicle production to advancing rail (competition) so capital will be stuck in that industry.
Re:Volkswagen exec admits full self-driving cars 'may never ...
by DasIch on Saturday January 18, 2020 @03:36PM
(#22086987)
It seems to me that the problems that trains and rail infrastructure is facing are: bureaucracy, politics and an increasing inability to execute on infrastructure projects on time/budget by governments.
To the extent cost is a a factor, it's unnecessarily high due to these aforementioned issues[1]. So I don't think money invested into self-driving cars hurts trains and rail infrastructure.
[1]: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/1/1/14112776/ne...
Re:Volkswagen exec admits full self-driving cars 'may never ...
by dpflan on Saturday January 18, 2020 @03:40PM
(#22087012)
Yes, the policy issues are real and sticky and act to thwart advance.
Re:Volkswagen exec admits full self-driving cars 'may never ...
by Digory on Saturday January 18, 2020 @03:19PM
(#22086856)
I suppose the car crowd would say environmental factors tilt toward cars over airplanes.
In the US, trains are for freight. It would cost too much to create a new passenger rail network compared to automating existing intercity roads.
Now, increasing the throughput of rail using self-driving trains could make a bundle in the US.
Re:Volkswagen exec admits full self-driving cars 'may never ...
by dpflan on Saturday January 18, 2020 @03:23PM
(#22086894)
Self driving trains seems like an excellent problem space. Are you aware of any companies working on this?
Re:Volkswagen exec admits full self-driving cars 'may never ...
by DasIch on Saturday January 18, 2020 @03:30PM
(#22086944)
Self driving trains already exist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_train_operation
Re:Volkswagen exec admits full self-driving cars 'may never ...
by niftich on Saturday January 18, 2020 @03:34PM
(#22086977)
Lots [1][2]. These have seen most deployment in closed networks (e.g. subways, or remote mining railways [3]), but experiments on "normal" interconnected networks are ongoing.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_train_operation [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_automated_train_system... [3] https://www.railwaygazette.com/australasia/rio-tinto-complet...
Self-driving cars that only go 80% of the way would compete against those forms of transportation which have established business models, networks and in the case of trains are subsidized in a way that self-driving cars likely won't ever be.
Additionally the key advantage of cars is flexibility, not having to figure out how to get to or from the train station or airport. In your scenario self-driving cars would lack this advantage.
Now granted this may still sound like an appealing proposition in countries with poor public transportation infrastructure but that substantially reduces the size of the overall market. Sure this might be attractive for the US but what about Europe? Asia?
Now of course there is an obvious answer to this problem: Keep the steering wheel and drive the rest of the way yourself. That just means you'll have a lot of drivers who won't gain experience at the current rate though. Not sure I would like to share the road with those people.