Google's self-driving cars

Ron-P

Google announced today that it has developed cars that drive themselves automatically in traffic, and that it has been testing them on the streets of California for months. It might seem like an unusual project for Google, but it could actually have big benefits.

We’re not just talking about cars running Google Android. This is the stuff of science fiction. The only accident that has occurred so far: One of the cars was rear-ended by a driver at a stop light. Human error!

The vehicles have been tested on 140,000 miles of California road, from Silicon Valley to Santa Monica. Each car is manned during the tests. One person sits in the driver’s seat, ready to take control of the vehicle instantly by grabbing the wheel or touch the brake should something go wrong with the system. The person in the passenger’s seat is an engineer who monitors the software operations on a computer.

Google hired engineers who previously participated in competitions and races involving automated cars — important turning points in the development of the technology, which has been coming into its own since around 2005 according to The New York Times.

If your first concern is one of safety, Google would argue that you’re going about it all wrong. Safety is one of the the project’s purposes. Google believes that the technology could nearly half the number of automobile-related deaths because computers are supposedly better at driving than humans in the right circumstances.

There are other hypothetical pluses, too. The vehicles’ instant reaction time and 360-degree awareness would allow them to drive closer together on the highway than humans can, reducing traffic congestion. They could be more careful when operating the gas, reducing fuel consumption.

But the biggest benefit for Google would be the hour or so of daily commute time the car owner would save. Instead of driving, he or she could either be productive or entertained in the vehicle, doing work on a wireless Internet connection or watching television. Google doesn’t say it explicitly, but TechCrunch was quick to note that this time could be spent using Google products and absorbing Google-run advertising.

The most optimistic projections put this technology at least eight years away from market, though. Legal hassles are among the myriad problems; all of the current traffic laws assume that a human driver is present in the vehicle.

Do you think this technology will eventually be deployed, or is it just a pipe dream for Sergei and Larry? Let us know in the comments.

http://mashable.com/2010/10/09/google-cars/

Makes me think of the film Minority Report.

jimmydep

It's just a matter of time before this type of technology becomes a reality. I know my wife would be the first on line for an automatic car.......and the roads would be safer.

VR3

I can think of entire cities this technology would help...

tonyb

Nice toy, but it's still hard to remove humans from the decision making process when driving.

thsmith

They must of read the book from the 60s called The Four Day Weekend.

http://www.amazon.com/four-weekend-Belmont-Science-Fiction/dp/B0007FCDJY/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286808616&sr=1-2

Danny Tse

But....but....but that would take away the fun of having "road rage"

exalted512

I can honestly see this getting to a point where its going to be against the law for humans to drive.
-Cody

bobman1235

exalted512 wrote: »

I can honestly see this getting to a point where its going to be against the law for humans to drive.
-Cody

Honestly? No you can't.

fatchowmein

I can see a hybrid system whereby the highways are automated and the car returns manual control when you exit. I think there was such an example on "The 6th Day"?

I'm in traffic 2 to 3 hours a day so I would welcome it. Gives me something else to do while I'm commuting. There is no joy in driving when you're stuck in rush hour traffic.

bobman1235

You guys are talking about America right? They can't even enforce something like "all cars need airbags" because people are continuing to use older cars. Can you imagine if a law was passed that required you to have a car that had automatic guidance systems? These would have to be standard on new cars for 50 years before it was even considered, and we're probably 30 years away from this actually being in a production car. You'll be worm food LONG before the possibility even exist.

Face

exalted512 wrote: »

I can honestly see this getting to a point where its going to be against the law for humans to drive.
-Cody

Yeah, and we were supposed to have flying cars already.

Loud & Clear

Toyota already tried making self-driving cars and got into a lot of trouble because of it.

tommyboy

tonyb wrote: »

Nice toy, but it's still hard to remove humans from the decision making process when driving.

This is why we won't see this technology for a long long time. Just think of the lawsuits that could come out of this. The programming must be perfect or google could get destroyed. Now, instead of blaming drivers, the blame would be right on google (or whoever else designs it)

And also how would the car react under circumstances that aren't typical.... Snowstorms, heavy pedestrian areas, construction zones, deer, etc.. But its still a neat concept that is will almost certainly be the norm in years to come... but maybe not ours

tonyb

Ok...and the norm in years to come will be vacations to the moon too....not holding my breath for either one. Look at it this way. If you have a totally computerized car, your every move is tracked and timed. The occupants most likely too. You will be told where you can go, where you can't. The human brain is still the best super computer and we supposedly only use 10% of that. How about we put some effort into increasing the brains capacity by way of technology. Evolution so far has been the method,though it takes time no matter what technology comes forth. I tend to think before all these glorified toys come about,the human species will have long destroyed itself. Regardless, it's a pipe dream for those eco wacko's anyway.

madmax

When my gps tells me to turn left into the lake I don't do it. I wonder if these self driving vehicles would?

tonyb

madmax wrote: »

When my gps tells me to turn left into the lake I don't do it. I wonder if these self driving vehicles would?

your just going to have to get with the program and do what your told.:p

Actually, that may not be far from reality if your a senior citizen.:)

wz2p7j

This technology is actually pretty mature. When I was a member of the brand team at Buick, like, 10 years ago, we were testing this stuff.

Mike Doble, our then technology manager was doing extensive testing of the technology in California. I remember reading an article one morning in USA Today where Mike was quoted as saying something to the effect people will be joining the 70 mph club (a reference to the so called "mile high club" (sex in the bathroom of an airplane)).

Laughing, I showed the article to our then director , Frank Porter, who hung his head on the wall and said "Gawd Mike, what have you done?" Sure enough, within hours the phone was ringing off the hook for comment.

For the record, Mike has always claimed he never said it (yeah, right)

Still laugh about it to this day.

Chris

BeRad

I want to see one of these cars driving though a Northwestern Ontario snow storm without getting stuck or going off the road!

tommyboy

tonyb wrote: »

Ok...and the norm in years to come will be vacations to the moon too....not holding my breath for either one. Look at it this way. If you have a totally computerized car, your every move is tracked and timed. The occupants most likely too.

In a way, this is already going on now. Just yesterday, a kid threatened his parents that he was going to go out and shoot up a place that would be bigger than the L.A fitness shooting last year (it was also in Pittsburgh if anyone remembers). How was the nutjob caught? they used his cell phone to pinpoint his location. Is your cell phone in your pocket? If so, they know where you are;)

tonyb wrote: »

You will be told where you can go, where you can't.

No, you won't be told where to go. Its your choice to buy a car, why would you buy something that forces you where to go and not go. And I can almost guarantee there will still be a manual override just incase.

tonyb wrote: »

The human brain is still the best super computer and we supposedly only use 10% of that. How about we put some effort into increasing the brains capacity by way of technology. Evolution so far has been the method,though it takes time no matter what technology comes forth. I tend to think before all these glorified toys come about,the human species will have long destroyed itself. Regardless, it's a pipe dream for those eco wacko's anyway.

No one wants anyone messing with their brain thats why. I'll keep my 10%;)

Driving a car is the most dangerous thing any average american does consistantly in their lifetime. For that reason, thousands and thousands of people are injured or die in car crashes every year, its obvious typical americans can not drive cars safely. For this reason, this technology should at least be observed.

audiobliss

tommyboy wrote: »

its obvious typical americans can not drive cars safely. For this reason, this technology should at least be observed.

Or rather, for this reason, a different approach and attitude towards driving should be adopted, similar to how I understand it is in Germany. If driving were treated as more of a privilege and a responsibility rather than a right and a pleasure (though it will always be the latter, at least as long as manual control is still available), starting with the government and driver education programs, expected proficiency levels, licensing fees, etc.

Keeping people from driving bypasses the problem, not fixes it.

bobman1235

audiobliss wrote: »

Or rather, for this reason, a different approach and attitude towards driving should be adopted, similar to how I understand it is in Germany. If driving were treated as more of a privilege and a responsibility rather than a right and a pleasure (though it will always be the latter, at least as long as manual control is still available), starting with the government and driver education programs, expected proficiency levels, licensing fees, etc.

Keeping people from driving bypasses the problem, not fixes it.

PERFECTLy said. Every time I see that commercial for the E-Class where they talk about attention assist I want to have every person involved thrown in prison. If you can't stay alert while driving, STAY OFF THE DAMNED ROAD. You shouldn't rely on a car to keep you AWAKE while you're hurtling down the highway at 70+mph.

Similarly, cars by companies like Toyota that do everything they can to remove any connection between the driver and the car (and subsequently the road ) are doing way more harm than good. Everyone should at least be forced to LEARN how to drive a manual, because it forces you to understand a bit about how cars work, and forces you to pay a bit more attention while you're learning.

madmax

I never drove a manual until a few years ago when I bought my xB. I notice I pay a lot more attention now with the manual for some reason. Maybe its the shift planning that goes on in the background of the mind.

fatchowmein

There's one aspect we haven't talked about.

Self driving cars = no speeding tickets, no DUI/DWI, no red light tickets

I'm sure the local municipality will be mad about loss of revenue. I'm guessing there will be a heavy self-driving tax to make up for lost revenue.