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DETROIT - Cars that drive themselves — even parking at their destination — could be ready for sale within a decade, General Motors Corp. executives say.
GM, parts suppliers, university engineers and other automakers all are working on vehicles that could revolutionize short- and long-distance travel. And Tuesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner will devote part of his speech to the driverless vehicles.
Quite honestly, I trust a driverless car a hell of a lot more than I trust the legions of mopes out there to whom state DMVs dispense drivers' licenses practically indiscriminately.
All of the pieces of the technology are already there: adaptable cruise control that will automatically accelerate and brake to maintain following distance, with at least one system capable of applying full brake power in an emergency situation if needed; lane departure warning systems; cars that steer themselves such as while parking. All that's left to do is to refine/improve some of these systems (particularly lane departure) and then integrate them.
Quite honestly, I trust a driverless car a hell of a lot more than I trust the legions of mopes out there to whom state DMVs dispense drivers' licenses practically indiscriminately.
All of the pieces of the technology are already there: adaptable cruise control that will automatically accelerate and brake to maintain following distance, with at least one system capable of applying full brake power in an emergency situation if needed; lane departure warning systems; cars that steer themselves such as while parking. All that's left to do is to refine/improve some of these systems (particularly lane departure) and then integrate them.
I agree. And a driverless car's driver won't be yakking on a cellphone or putting on makeup while driving, either.
Since half of the cars out there have people behind the wheels that are more involved with their phone conversation than they are with what's happening around them, I'm all for automated roadways.
People don't want to drive any more. They want to chat on the phone or listen to music or send text messages and emails or watch movies.
This idea has been talked about for a long time. Usually this is called "ITS", or "intelligent transportation systems". Not so much cars that drive themselves, but being able to provide drivers with more information to drive safely in traffic.
One thing I'm wondering about is how will driverless cars cope with the fact that there are many road-legal conveyances out there besides automobiles. Motorcycles, bicycles, velomobiles, etc. They have to be detected in any system used.
Honda has demonstrated concepts of a system where cars and motorcycles/scooters have transponders located inside the vehicle. Honda Worldwide | September 2, 2005 "Honda Completes Development of ASV-3 Advanced Safety Vehicles" . The system will also detect pedestrians. The car system uses force feedback on the steering wheel and braking assist to try and avoid collisions. The motorcycle/scooter system uses audio/visual warnings and a rearview camera.
It will happen, but I think we have a lot of high tech work to do on the roads all across the country to make it totally driverless. You may see technology help you out a lot, but we are a long way off from being driverless. Sure wish I could see a hundred or so years down the road, no one will be driving a car then, I imagine all cars will be driverless and accidents will be reduced. What will all the cities do about the lost revenue that is generated from speeding tickets right now? We have a very long way to go, and other less developed countries have even farther. Fun to think about though.
A computer can do just about anything better than humans. The problem is... its given its direction by computers. Like others have said, I'd trust a computer over most of the morons on the road these days. But i can also see a malfunction cause worse accidents...
All in all, it'd be a great feature on a vehicle. But I also like to drive myself at times... so it really needs to be an option. I do see it as a great alternative to trucking and mass transits..... but it'll probably cause controversies with jobs and such....
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But, I'd like the option of turning off the auto control and driving it myself if need be.
