Think of the lost time sitting behind a wheel in everyday commuter traffic that could be put to better use. It's a two-fold savings, because the autonomous vehicles will supposedly handle traffic more efficiently.
As much as this is interesting technology, I agree with Jhankwitz that the lawyers (or certain types of lawyers) would potentially have a field day with this.
I'm not crazy about the idea of fully autonomous, but if it saved lives, I would welcome it. I didn't like seatbelts at first. But the statistics on lives saved became compelling very quickly.
Ann, I would go the other way. In the manner tha prohibition did not work, banning cell phone usage while driving doesn't work either.
The right approach is not "semi" autonomous. Whole-hog full autonomy should be the goal, for sooner rather than later. Semi is good for the short term (like diamond lanes on highways).
It sounds like a mixed message to me, too. I don't really get why automakers would want to encourage risky behavior. If drivers are breaking the law by texting or talking on the phone, then shouldn't they be cited? We don't make cars that accommodate drinking while driving, so why should we make cars that accommodate these habits?
Yes Jhankwitz, they have very deep pockets. I think that is why Jeremy Salinger of GM is pushing for the importances of drivers still being attentive, in the hopes of lessening their possibility of being held liable.
If the system still requires full driver attentiveness, the driver may as well be doing driving. It is a lot easier to be attentive if you have a dependent chore to do.
Looks like 'Litigation Heaven' for lawyers. Auto manufacturers have far deeper pockets than us regular drivers. There's bigg-bucks to be made if an automated car is involved in an accident.
I agree, Beth. I see this as an important move forward. I try to be a careful, attentive driver. Yet the cars around me all seem to be going mad. Any technology that can keep those cars from hitting is certainly welcome.
For 3D printing to make the jump from rapid prototyping to manufacturing, engineers will need to find easier ways to move products from their CAD screens to their printers.
Gigabit and PoE are two networking technologies moving ahead in tandem as industrial users power remote Ethernet devices such as IP security cameras at 1,000 Mbps over existing CAT5 cable.
New versions of BASF's Ecovio line are both compostable and designed for either injection molding or thermoforming. These combinations are becoming more common for the single-use bioplastics used in food service and food packaging applications, but are still not widely available.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 5
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I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
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