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Waymo cars can be taken over by a human driver. From what I have heard from individuals who have ridden that car, the option for humans to take over is always available. This places the car squarely in Level 4, not level 5. Waymo scaled back from the "no wheel" car to a Level 4 car, which shows that not even Google is confident in no steering wheels.
It is strictly a convenience thing. And the incidence of intervention is rapidly decreasing. So the thing is a level 5 if no one intervenes...and that is the point. There is nothing preventing a level 5 from allowing whatever level of intervention desired. Just that it is not needed. Basically no one in the car needs a drivers license.
Waymo ordered "thousands" of Chrysler Pacificas this January and are launching their self driving car program later this year. They already have about 600.
Level 5 is impracticable for many reasons, particularly the fact that travelers will at one point or another encounter times when they need to take the wheel (such as when driving on country roads which are not mapped) and the fact that most Americans want to be able to choose between autonomous mode and human driven mode. Many Americas do not want to lose total control of their car (According to MIT AgeLab survey).
It seems that in terms of consumer interests, the "Sweet spot" for cars is Level 4 and no higher. It's the best of both worlds, having autonomy while having the option for control when desired. This is a country that by and large embraces choice.
It is strictly a convenience thing. And the incidence of intervention is rapidly decreasing. So the thing is a level 5 if no one intervenes...and that is the point. There is nothing preventing a level 5 from allowing whatever level of intervention desired. Just that it is not needed. Basically no one in the car needs a drivers license.
That's just plain wrong. Level 5 cars do not allow any sort of intervention whatsoever. When Google had those pods, they had no steering wheels or pedals. That was a Level 5 car by definition. The fact that Waymo's car has a steering wheel and a pedal and the fact that humans can take over whenever they want, automatically classifies the car as Level 4, with a choice between self driving mode or human driving mode.
The levels of automation is based on the physical equipment within the car. Intervention is between Level 0 and Level 4. Level 5 does not allow any sort of intervention whatsoever.
The only type of cars which would have Level 5 automation will be cars that operate in ridesharing services in Manhattan or the hip areas of Brooklyn, or perhaps on shuttle service up and down the New York State Thruway and similar places across America.
Level 4 cars will be widespread because of the fact that it may be driven to areas which are not clearly mapped (country roads, local roads, parking lots, etc) or navigated in the backyard or other places which are not set up for automation, which will exist for a very very long time (perhaps when for about 100 years or so). Plus the human desire for control will be around for a very very long time (perhaps never to go away).
Level 5 cars will mainly be owned by Uber and Lyft and the like whereas Level 4 cars will be owned by private owners, other ridesharing companies, or fleets.
Last edited by UpstateNYS; 02-16-2018 at 04:44 PM..
Car manufacturers can't even build cars now without recalls 7-10 years later! How do you think this is going to go when a vehicle doesn't have a driver and something fails? To me it's a very scary thought!
Many people, when they get a severe warning on their car displays do what? Keep driving - some faster to get where they are going before the car totally fails. AI cars, IMO, will be programmed to stop and stay put - or "limp home" at very low speeds.
I think it will be interesting to see in the future who exactly will be allowed to drive a vehicle. Will it only be those who are deemed emergency like fire, police, ambulance? Will motorcycles and scooters be outlawed?
What will be the requirements to own a self-driving car? Will an intelligence test be required? A background criminal check? A medical check-up?
Waymo ordered "thousands" of Chrysler Pacificas this January and are launching their self driving car program later this year. They already have about 600.
Level 5 is impracticable for many reasons, particularly the fact that travelers will at one point or another encounter times when they need to take the wheel (such as when driving on country roads which are not mapped) and the fact that most Americans want to be able to choose between autonomous mode and human driven mode. Many Americas do not want to lose total control of their car (According to MIT AgeLab survey).
It seems that in terms of consumer interests, the "Sweet spot" for cars is Level 4 and no higher. It's the best of both worlds, having autonomy while having the option for control when desired. This is a country that by and large embraces choice.
Again the difference between 4 and 5 lies in the view of the beholder. I would expect similar behavior in the trucks. Initial vehicles may well have steering capabilities but they likely will swiftly leave the wheels and peddles model...simply because wheels and peddles do not blend well with the automaton unless the automaton is actually a retrofit to a conventional vehicle.
In the end game the payoff is in level 5. So that is where it ends up. The truck, the taxi, the minibus all are dependent on getting to level 5. And much of the value of the car will be much better in level 5.
Again the difference between 4 and 5 lies in the view of the beholder. I would expect similar behavior in the trucks. Initial vehicles may well have steering capabilities but they likely will swiftly leave the wheels and peddles model...simply because wheels and peddles do not blend well with the automaton unless the automaton is actually a retrofit to a conventional vehicle.
In the end game the payoff is in level 5. So that is where it ends up. The truck, the taxi, the minibus all are dependent on getting to level 5. And much of the value of the car will be much better in level 5.
First and foremost, we live in a country that is dead set against giving up control of their car. Americans simply do not want to go to Level 5 (or in your definition Level 5 only cars). Period. End of story. The most cars will go is level 4.
Instead of the market or car companies forcing it's wishes down the American people's throat, it should serve what people want. Nobody wants to ride in a car with no wheels or pedals. You may wish upon a star that it wasn't that way but it's the truth.
Two-thirds of the country want control over their own car. That's what people want. To go "I don't give a damn what people wants, I want to take the wheel and pedal out" is not going to work. There is always going to be places where human beings need to take control. It is impossible to fully map out every feet of every road in America, there is always going to be places where AVs are not going to go. People need to maneover their cars in their own backyards. There are so many situations where humans need to drive.
Perhaps your car would customize for different neighborhoods. As you enter a bad area, your windows become tinted and a bass thumper kicks in so you don't look out of place. Because you don't have to watch the road, you can be looking in all directions for danger. You could have your hand on the trigger instead of the steering wheel. I would imagine by that time, all the cars would have cameras too, which would deter street crime in general. If the statistics bear out that a neighborhood is too dangerous to travel thru, then it is removed from the route grid for anyone that does not live or work there.
Think about this one, if you're a felon, maybe your car has restrictions. Maybe every car has fingerprint ID so they know who's driving the car, and every passenger in the car too, with some type of ID sensor system. The world becomes a lot harder for criminals to carry out crimes using a vehicle, they must rob or commit crimes on foot, closer to home.
That's in French. What page is it on and what is the English translation of the relevant paragraph?
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