Re:Driverless Cars Get Green Light in California
by citricsquid on Tuesday September 25, 2012 @07:01PM
(#4573196)
Please can you explain how each of those will be affected in a big way? I can't think of ways that most would be affected in a real tangible way. I use taxis because I don't own a car (edit: ignore this one, I wasn't thinking straight, hah), my deliveries (groceries, items from online) are manned because there is management of the delivery needed, not because someone needs to drive. I can see how the insurance industry will be affected in a large way though.
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Re:Driverless Cars Get Green Light in California
by ChuckMcM on Tuesday September 25, 2012 @07:05PM
(#4573222)
I believe he was implying that the humans would be impacted. Taxis that drive themselves don't get tickets, don't forget to turn on the meter, and don't need to be paid part of the fare. Basically any people moving services are made more economical by removing human labor, insurance risk, and traffic liability.
It remains to be seen if those savings can actually be realized of course.
Re:Driverless Cars Get Green Light in California
by rogerbinns on Tuesday September 25, 2012 @08:04PM
(#4573482)
There is no need for the delivery to be manned. The vehicle can pull up, you enter a code and it provides the goods vending machine style. (Note Amazon already has these in several cities.)
Re:Driverless Cars Get Green Light in California
by jacalata on Wednesday September 26, 2012 @04:17AM
(#4574668)
I have no intention of being home every time I get a delivery.
Re:Driverless Cars Get Green Light in California
by rogerbinns on Wednesday September 26, 2012 @05:10PM
(#4578069)
At the moment the delivery drivers have all these work rules and health and safety regulations (eg 9-5, limited hours per day/week, holidays off etc). It makes sense to schedule deliveries around their convenience trying to get as many deliveries per driver hour possible.
But robotic drivers don't care. You can dick them around as much as you want (tell them you'll be home at 6, then tell them 7, then tell them 2am). It doesn't bug them having to wait around for you.
Consequently the vast majority of the time deliveries will happen around your availability. That is probably good enough 99% of the time. As to what happens when you are out of town, the delivery can just wait till you get back.