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The Downside of Autonomous Cars

Posted June 11, 2014 11:07 AM by Engineering360 eNewsletter

With all the talk about cars that drive themselves, few people have considered the consequences of "driving" a car that is always online. The idea that the police can command a car they are chasing to slow down seems attractive. But what happens if those cybertools fall into the hands of criminals, terrorists, and other less-than-altruistic souls? This piece from the IEEE Spectrum examines the risk and the consequences.

A related story from Electronics360 explains how faster data speeds are bringing such driver assistant features, as well as overall vehicle connectivity, to market sooner than later.

Editor's Note: This news brief was brought to you by the Automotive Technology eNewsletter. Subscribe today to have content like this delivered to your inbox.

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redfred
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#1

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/11/2014 12:21 PM

Wow! Where in the world did you get the idea to bring this story to CR4?

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Anonymous Hero
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#2

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/11/2014 3:09 PM

"...few people have considered the consequences..."

Except just about everyone that belongs to CR4.
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reward54
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#12
In reply to #2

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/13/2014 4:59 PM

"...few people have considered the consequences..."

Similar to a headline I saw earlier this week which claimed that astronauts were keeping it a secret that space has a smell.

Are we becoming so lazy that we can't even do a simple internet search?
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redfred
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#13
In reply to #12

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/13/2014 8:43 PM

Have you met our member, Lyn. He has the exact same lament. You are both correct.

At the same time, once the first layer has been presented, the nuances can be expounded and debated.

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user-deleted-1105
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#14
In reply to #13

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/14/2014 3:31 AM

Yes but then we are in danger of becoming a bunch of mass debaters

Del

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edressler
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#17
In reply to #14

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/16/2014 2:12 PM

Splarf!
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70AARCuda
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#3

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/11/2014 6:49 PM

Automobile ANALOGY -- GM has been making automobiles for over 100 years now, and just about everyone of them had an ignition switch, so you might A$$UME that by now they would know HOW TO make them 'error-proof' but, sadly, that is obviously NOT the case.

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#4

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/11/2014 9:10 PM

Why are we using technology to make cars that we have less control over? I have a new car with "push button ignition" that is really handy except that I'd feel a lot safer having a switch I could shut off if the engine didn't stop accelerating when I took my foot off the accelerator. Everything automatic should have a manual backup, e.g. manual control of steering or brake if the power systems fail. We should not sacrifice reliability for "gee whiz" features.

Bottom line: If I'm responsible for the operation of the automobile, I want full control of it.
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Rixter
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#5

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/11/2014 9:11 PM

Why are we using technology to make cars that we have less control over? I have a new car with "push button ignition" that is really handy except that I'd feel a lot safer having a switch I could shut off if the engine didn't stop accelerating when I took my foot off the accelerator. Everything automatic should have a manual backup, e.g. manual control of steering or brake if the power systems fail. We should not sacrifice reliability for "gee whiz" features.

Bottom line: If I'm responsible for the operation of the automobile, I want full control of it.
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user-deleted-1105
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#10
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Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/13/2014 4:09 AM

Man walk into the fish and chip shop and asks for fish and chips twice.
The man behind the counter says.
I heard you the first time.
Del

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#15
In reply to #10

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/14/2014 3:41 PM

Maybe the system decided it could process my form after all.

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#6

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/12/2014 8:12 AM

And what's going to happen when the starter says "Gentlemen, start your engines"?
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70AARCuda
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#7
In reply to #6

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/12/2014 10:45 AM

The CRT screen will suddenly go BLUE and lock everything up, demanding that you immediately UPGRADE to the newest version of MacroHard™ Automotive Donkey Operating System (ADOS).

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#8
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Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/12/2014 12:50 PM

I closed the windows and it still won't start!

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70AARCuda
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#9
In reply to #8

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/12/2014 6:03 PM

I'm STILL looking for CTL-ALT-DEL on my dashboard...haven't found it yet.

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#16
In reply to #9

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/15/2014 10:32 AM

And you're passing a truck when a window pops up "Updates available, reboot now?"
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#11

Re: The Downside of Autonomous Cars

06/13/2014 4:11 AM

"No Dave, you have already been shopping once today. It's for your own good, you go and have a quiet sit down"
Hal

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