The Trick That Makes Google's Self-Driving Cars Work

Don't be fooled. It's actually trunk monkeys behind that curtain.

I think we'll have driving robots before we have cars that drive themselves....A robot that can drive and do other tasks would be more useful than one that is part of the car itself....

...or maybe something like this...

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/03/12/building-robotic-driving-instructor/

Another expensive product searching for a market.

"Perfect, or near-perfect, robotic drivers could cut traffic accidents, expand the carrying capacity of the nation's road infrastructure"

Already saw the human equivalent. When I was stationed in Okinawa, everybody, and I do mean everybody, had the same S%^t box car. When the light turned green, everybody floored it. I had never seen so many cars get through an intersection in such a short period of time before! And I haven't seen it since. Talk about motivation to keep your car tuned up!

The technology is there, people aren't going to accept it so readily though. I think the swing vote will be government pushing it. After all, it will have to be so connected, that they will know everybody's every move. That will be a big incentive for them to back the technology.

Have I mentioned that one of my favorite movies is, "The Matrix"?

I don't know why exactly, but I think that constantly coming up with ways to eliminate humans from the equation, is going to come back and bite us.

We are told, that once work becomes unnecessary, and all are collecting government benefits, that we will have time to produce works of art and poetry...along with spending quality time with family.

I suspect that our boredom will lead us to kill each other for entertainment. Art and poetry require trials and tribulation to be meaningful.

By attempting to create Utopia, we are becoming the masters of our own self destruction.

Perhaps the evolution of mankind leads to a mechanical goal....?

I can believe that knowing everything about the route is effective. My car learned the way to work, including where all the potholes were and where to change lanes. Lots of times I didn't remember a thing about the driving.

You make some really good points. And when robocar runs over the guy with the sign, who gets sued, the owner, the manufacturer, the programmer...?

Autonomous vehicles work pretty well on Mars where traffic is light.

Thanks!

Who gets sued? Probably the owner, but especially if the vehicle has a manual override.

Response from Podunk, Iowa planning board to applicant for new shopping center:

We regret to inform you that your permits are in suspension for 9 years and 6 months. It will take that long for google to integrate the proposed curb cuts into your site plan to allow self-driving cars to navigate safely.