Right now, a number of companies have already built cars that are more or less autonomic. Some of the new Mercedes models can drive in cities by following the car in front of them. BMW has a test model able to freely move on a motorway. Tesla has released an “autopilot” update, allowing its Model S to drive on its own, including changing lanes to overtake slower cars, and even find a right spot to parallel park in. And don’t forget Google’s Self-Driving Car, which has been on the streets since 2012.
It’s a fact that computers will be better drivers than humans. With some of the leading causes of traffic accidents being speeding, drunk driving, distraction and ignoring the traffic signs, it’s fair to assume that an ever-alert computer would be a lot safer.
This, however, raises a question. In a semi-autonomous vehicle, a driver is always there to take the wheel should the need arise. But in a fully self-driving car, there is no driver. So if an accident does happen, who is to blame? Google’s car has so far been involved in 14 minor accidents, however, none of them were the car’s fault. And should a fully autonomous vehicle require any kind of license to operate?
Also, when it comes to communicating on the road, eye contact plays a great role. Pedestrians will look at the driver to make sure they’ve been seen before entering a crossing. A driver may flash their headlights as a signal that they’re yielding their right of way. That’s something you can’t do when there’s no driver.
Another safety issue we will definitely face is coexistence with human drivers during the lengthy period of transition, as more and more autonomic cars are introduced to the public roads. And it’s not just about a computer always having to factor in the possibility of unpredictable and dangerous behavior of other cars. How will human drivers treat the computers is just as important. It’s not hard to imagine someone cutting in in front of a self driving car, just because they know it’s programmed to deal with this kind of situations.
- Would you feel safer in an autonomous car?
- How should accidents involving autonomous vehicles be handled?
- What limitations could this technology face? (think driving a poorly-mapped dirt road)
I think that it should be, and will be, very similar to automatic airplanes - it will be possible to use auto mode, but you will be able to switch to manual mode in any time, just to be able to avoid possible accident or unhandled scenario.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, machines don't make mistakes, as long as they're programmed well. If we assumed that only automatic card would be available on the streets, they could coordinate with each other, making it far more effective, with MUCH less traffic jams, making it actually very easy and much better way to travel. And if there was an accident, we could analyze what went wrong and fix it, the same way we're doing it with services or programs.
If that comes true, there will be for sure automatic cameras, so it can be clear who caused the accident, and driver would be 100% responsible for whatever machine does, as it's the same as all those "extensions" in newest cars nowadays, which more or less help us automate the things.
Yeah, it'll be easy once we get rid of human drivers. Just hook the cars up to some kind of hive-mind, and we're all set.
Delete1. No, definitely not. Can I be sure that the programmers didn't make a mistake?
ReplyDelete2. Here is an interesting article about it:
http://www.dobreprogramy.pl/Algorytmiczna-moralnosc-kogo-ma-zabic-samoprowadzace-sieauto,News,67551.html
Humans algorithm is:
1. Protect car owner
2. Protect passengers
3. Minimize the damage of others
3.
- No GPS signal (these programms rely on GPS)
- Snow lying on road
- this
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh269/SchultzMike/FunnyPics/fail-owned-road-paint-lines-fail.jpg
and this
http://cdn.acidcow.com/pics/20090629/road_02.jpg
did I mention this :D ?
http://wtf.failepicfail.com/epic-fail/1103/never-got-pulled-over-for-drunk-driving-on-this-road-wtf-epic-fail-1299260699.jpg
Of course it would be great if I could go home with my car that drives instead of me after 2-3 beers, but only with emergency option available (manual driving button or somethink like this).
Can you be sure human drivers won't make a mistake? Did you test every one of them in a lab? :P
DeleteSafely hmm? if that's all will be fine-tuned to the perfection, I think that yes, because however everything is going with progress, a few years perhaps to replace our cars.
ReplyDeleteAccidents, I think a driver should be responsible for drive a car , because it is his car.
However that's all people are doing. People are wrong, and technology can't be trusted in 100 per cent.
This is a very interesting topic. For people who are travelling by car it will be probably safe. But I'm afraid of pedestrians - what was mentioned well in the presentation.
ReplyDeleteThe presentation described also the problem of other drivers on the road who may try to take advantage of the weaknesses of these cars. I think it will be very difficult that on one road will be together self driving cars and traditional cars.
Currently, many manufacturers constantly developing their own systems, which allow temporary driving a car without interaction from the driver. An example might be Tesla. Here is an interesting and short video about the system of Tesla - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yCAZWdqX_Y
1. I think i will not feel safe in autonomous car, beacuse i like to drive and i don't think i will ever trust autonomus car.
ReplyDelete2. For first it should protect everyone in car. About how to protect what is outside the car, here is a video about kinetic energy absorber, what should be used in car, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-h56N_A3rY
3. Cost of production, very frequent repairs and very easy to hack(here is a articule about that http://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/ car wasn't autonomus car)
I think people not feeling safe is mostly about the early stage of the real development of the technology. Right now there weren't many tests, it's not a normal thing for standard users - and there's noone to blame for that, programmers can make mistakes and stuff. I think that when only there will be more of these cars on our streets and the streets itself will be ready for it, the unsafety will slowly vanish and in next 50 years it will be possible for us to jump into the car, not having to drive it. The only interesting thing would only be about the law then. If the car is driving automaticaly, would it be necessary to have at least one sober person on the board of it in case of an accident?
ReplyDelete2) As for this kind of technologies, the partial blame is always on the programmer and the manufacturer. But it should be mostly connected with making them pay fees whenever a real threat occurs rather than making them responsible for "killing" someone, or putting someones life to danger. They'll be most often doing whatever they can to make us safe.
3) The roads are not prepared, there are not many possibilites to fuel up these cars. What's more, the car should be able to find the best possible way to the target, not to get stuck in a traffic jam, or somewhere where the road is under construction and there are no info about that in the database.
1. I think that couldn't be safe at any situations ,because at road ,we can meet so many different situations , and it's impossible to make program , that will have cases, of all situations that could occur on the road
ReplyDelete2. At first it should protect people in car ,second ,environment of car eg. people or other cars, and at last place ,damage of car
3. We know that authonome cars have many electronics in itself, so it could be difficult, and expensive to find cause of error . And in my opinion the more electronics cars have , the more errors it can make
1) I would definitely not feel safe beacause of its early stage of develompent. This kind of technology needs a lot of testing to make sure that there are no errors and it can handle every situation.
ReplyDelete2) It will be really hard to determin proper procedures for accidents. The most important question is who should take the responsibility if the accident was caused by autonomus car.
3) In my opinion the biggest problem for that cars will be facing different situations on the road. People can be unpredictable and there is no way for a programmer to prepare a car for all possibilities.
1. I think on the road are too many dangerous situations to give up control to a computer.
ReplyDelete2. Of course at first it should protect people in car and outside, then other aspects.
3. The problem for that car will be weather for example flurry or other drivers who are unpredictable.
Managing a network of millions of self driving vehicles is a task that surpasses our abilities, if we take under concern all the possibilities and their dependencies. What I can say for sure, is that I definately would feel safer in a car that I "command", manually - can't even stand the automatic transmission, let alone the automatic steering wheel.
ReplyDelete1. Nope, I would never like to drive in such car, at least not in current stage of development. I enjoy driving a car, I would not like to be passenger of a computer.
ReplyDelete2. It would be hard to happen, cause law is not adjusted to such technologies. Now when a man dies from a machine, usually no one is blamed.
3. We would have to have complete map of every roads, bumps, mountains, rivers etc to avoid accidents. Sensors of such car would have to be highly advanced to ensure that everything is protected from danger.
1. No, I don't trust self-driving cars, roads are too dangerous. There are many different situations to handle. As Bartosz Karasiak said "However that's all people are doing. People are wrong, and technology can't be trusted in 100 per cent."
ReplyDelete2. Like others said, car should primarily protect people in the car.
3. Poor condition of road, problems with gps, too much electronics, hackers and much much more other limitations.
1. I think it's impossible to built such "perfect" system that anticipate all situations on the road. I would be worrying sitting in this kind of car.
ReplyDelete2. It's hard to define general points. The most important is safety of driver and passengers. Also should have protection against explosive and ignition.
3. The biggest problem are different situation on the road e.g. weather, detour, accidents. It may also be technical failures of the vehicle.
1. Yes! I'm waiting for that technology, in my opinion if all cars are autonomous, there won't be any accidents.
ReplyDelete2. I hope there won't be any accidents caused by autonomous cars.
3. Maybe autonomous can have real problems when they are driven on unpopular roads or when they go offroad.
When I finished reading the first question, in my mind there is a clear voice, "No, no, no" - I think that I would not feel safer in the autonomous car. The reason is simple - a man is able to anticipate situations and has the feeling, that is something that even the best robot does not have. Besides the issue of accidents ... What will the machine during the collision? How to blame for something a robot? It is possible that a more developed country than Poland, such cars are a good option, but it seems to me that in our country may have to be very troublesome, if only because of the condition of roads and badly marked diversions. These cars still seem to be something unreal and until they are developed and tested I guess I better not dare to drive them.
ReplyDelete1. No we don't trust for any computers.
ReplyDelete2. We must safe people in car. So it is most important for safety. For all people safety is paramount and this can be a major factor when we built a car. We must responsibility.
3. In my opinion is very big costs to produce new technology. Maybe in luxury cars the companies introduce new technologies.
At the beginning I wouldn't feel safe but later it would be better. The tests of tesla autopilot are very promising.
ReplyDeleteLink to tesla autopilot drive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH1ipC4MBZ0
Responsibility for accidents should be taken by the car manufacturer. That's their worker, who created control algorithm will be responsible for car errors and their effects. Although, I believe that there will not be such a problem because computers are infallible. If only automatic cars controlled by computers will ride on the road this should't be such a problem.
The technology has its limitations. The dirt roads are difficult to navigate. I can't imagine predict every possible situation at the forest roads. Probably it will be limited to which we will have to deal with.
Hm, I would sleep when will travel to work/home/study - awesome idea, how it says "Shut up and take my money"
ReplyDelete1. I would't feel safer in in an autonomous car. I like having control during driving the car and I don't trust some people while they're driving so what about computers which can have mistakes. Of course if there is everything programmed correctly, it can be a huge facilitation for some people.
ReplyDelete2. Security should be the primary element for people who would create this type of car, so they would take general part of blame for the accident. Maybe then they would work better and the chance of an accident would be lower.
3. I think that the main problem is cost. Producing technology like that requires considerable financial outlays, so first of all we should find sponsors who would be able to give money for such a project.
1. Not yet. The possible scenario is that in future road traffic will be dominated by autonomous cars and it will be forbidden to drive any vehicle on road, due to being main obstruction in the system.
ReplyDelete2. The user is fully responsible for his vehicle and how it’s being used (not mentioning any system failures, I can’t believe any car manufacturer would let such thing, they are afraid of being sued). We already have many systems improving our driving experience and no one blames it during accident, unless there was manufacturer’s failure.
3. Using infrared cameras to get information about area around car might not work properly if there is complete darkness, or if other object is also emitting such infrared waves. I am also wondering how such system would behave during hail, heavy snow, rain, sandstorm. If any cataclysm such hurricane or tornado appears would be possible to take steering to drive away as fast as possible (would it allow speeding?).
This actually scares me to death. Things break down all the time on the road. What happens when a self-driving car gets stuck at a certain speed, or the steering breaks, or the controls lock and you are headed right for oncoming traffic. Too many things can go wrong for this to work without being able to control the driving.
ReplyDeleteLeticia Holt @ KHunter Law