Google's Driverless Cars Have a Problem - Humans!

[Cow Poke]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/te...vers.html?_r=0

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Google, a leader in efforts to create driverless cars, has run into an odd safety conundrum: humans.

Last month, as one of Google’s self-driving cars approached a crosswalk, it did what it was supposed to do when it slowed to allow a pedestrian to cross, prompting its “safety driver” to apply the brakes. The pedestrian was fine, but not so much Google’s car, which was hit from behind by a human-driven sedan.

Google’s fleet of autonomous test cars is programmed to follow the letter of the law. But it can be tough to get around if you are a stickler for the rules. One Google car, in a test in 2009, couldn’t get through a four-way stop because its sensors kept waiting for other (human) drivers to stop completely and let it go. The human drivers kept inching forward, looking for the advantage — paralyzing Google’s robot.

It looks like robots will adhere to the letter of the law, while humans tend to fudge, so mixing the two can be a real challenge.

[Sparko]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/te...vers.html?_r=0

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Google, a leader in efforts to create driverless cars, has run into an odd safety conundrum: humans.

Last month, as one of Google’s self-driving cars approached a crosswalk, it did what it was supposed to do when it slowed to allow a pedestrian to cross, prompting its “safety driver” to apply the brakes. The pedestrian was fine, but not so much Google’s car, which was hit from behind by a human-driven sedan.

Google’s fleet of autonomous test cars is programmed to follow the letter of the law. But it can be tough to get around if you are a stickler for the rules. One Google car, in a test in 2009, couldn’t get through a four-way stop because its sensors kept waiting for other (human) drivers to stop completely and let it go. The human drivers kept inching forward, looking for the advantage — paralyzing Google’s robot.

It looks like robots will adhere to the letter of the law, while humans tend to fudge, so mixing the two can be a real challenge.

They need to add sharks with laser beams to the google cars.

[Jesse]

When all cars go automation, all humans should have their drivers licenses taken away.

[JonathanL]

When all cars go automation, all humans should have their drivers licenses taken away.

Hooray for Big Brother!

[Jesse]

Hooray for Big Brother!

Don't you mean Big Robot?

[JonathanL]

Don't you mean Big Robot?

Skynet is upon us.

[mikewhitney]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/te...vers.html?_r=0

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Google, a leader in efforts to create driverless cars, has run into an odd safety conundrum: humans.

Last month, as one of Google’s self-driving cars approached a crosswalk, it did what it was supposed to do when it slowed to allow a pedestrian to cross, prompting its “safety driver” to apply the brakes. The pedestrian was fine, but not so much Google’s car, which was hit from behind by a human-driven sedan.

Google’s fleet of autonomous test cars is programmed to follow the letter of the law. But it can be tough to get around if you are a stickler for the rules. One Google car, in a test in 2009, couldn’t get through a four-way stop because its sensors kept waiting for other (human) drivers to stop completely and let it go. The human drivers kept inching forward, looking for the advantage — paralyzing Google’s robot.

It looks like robots will adhere to the letter of the law, while humans tend to fudge, so mixing the two can be a real challenge.

The robot car should learn to move into the intersection when the car behind it honks it horn.

[Cow Poke]

The robot car should learn to move into the intersection when the car behind it honks it horn.

Then it would become a sport - "hey, let's honk and shoot that robot car into the busy intersection!"

[Teallaura]

When you have an accident with a driverless car who do you exchange information with?

[Cow Poke]

When you have an accident with a driverless car who do you exchange information with?

Hal.

hal-2001-a-space-odyssey1.jpg

[Teallaura]

Oh. Maybe that's why it kept asking for Dave...

[TheLurch]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/te...vers.html?_r=0

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Google, a leader in efforts to create driverless cars, has run into an odd safety conundrum: humans.

Last month, as one of Google’s self-driving cars approached a crosswalk, it did what it was supposed to do when it slowed to allow a pedestrian to cross, prompting its “safety driver” to apply the brakes. The pedestrian was fine, but not so much Google’s car, which was hit from behind by a human-driven sedan.

Google’s fleet of autonomous test cars is programmed to follow the letter of the law. But it can be tough to get around if you are a stickler for the rules. One Google car, in a test in 2009, couldn’t get through a four-way stop because its sensors kept waiting for other (human) drivers to stop completely and let it go. The human drivers kept inching forward, looking for the advantage — paralyzing Google’s robot.

It looks like robots will adhere to the letter of the law, while humans tend to fudge, so mixing the two can be a real challenge.

I have to say that my biggest problem while driving is also my fellow humans. So i feel sympathy for the machines on this one.

[Cow Poke]

I have to say that my biggest problem while driving is also my fellow humans. So i feel sympathy for the machines on this one.

Well, yeah, there's that.

[Teallaura]

Skynet is upon us.

I hear it uses Intel's Skylake.


Which is the stupidest name for a computer chip ever...

[Jesse]

I hear it uses Intel's Skylake.


Which is the stupidest name for a computer chip ever...

There is a part of me that hopes they change it to Skynet.

Here is a question, if a robot car parks in a handicap space, will it allow itself to get towed?