Russian driverless efforts are behind US, European, and Asian leaders, but the vast country is planning on testing driverless trucks soon. Plans are to first test the vehicles on European roads within the country and then expand onto its Asian roads. No word on Russian driverless cars or transit.
All this from Sputnik News, an actual publication. I have no idea about its reporting standards or journalistic integrity.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
I Told You So - Dangers of Partially Driverless
So what did people expect when a car came on the road that allows for hands-free driving on the highway - but only highways with clear lane markings - and a warning that hands should remain - doing nothing - on the wheel? Turns out, those hands are not remaining on the Tesla steering wheels, Some "drivers" are climbing into their Tesla backseats or engaging in other unauthorized, not-good-driver behavior. Oh, and the car can't "read" weather, stop signs, traffic signals, or other common road situations.
I don't have the time, but apparently these mischievous Tesla owners are posting their videos all over the place.
Apparently, I'm not the only person concerned that semi-autonomous vehicles present real dangers. State driving regulators in California are pondering this issue. They were taking their time, but will they hurry up now that the semi-autonomous Teslas are out there driving themselves on highways throughout the state? According to a Silicon Valley article, linked to above in this paragraph, all eyes are on California to issue regulations and set the model for what other states and countries should document, restrict, and allow.
And ... Tesla cars, with those hands-free drivers, perhaps some of them napping or watching videos while behind the wheel, are not considered self-driving according to current California rules. That will be one fun lawsuit when the first accident occurs because the driver did not become instantly attentive when the car alerted him or her.
California might start first driverless community
Planners developing a Southern California community to be pedestrian friendly and have supermarkets and other services within a 10-minute walk of each residence, is considering becoming the first driverless community in the U.S. as well. The idea is that when a car is needed, it can be shared and driverless.
The name is Lilac Hills Ranch, for those wanting to delve deeper.
Florida embracing driverless
Why pay to build a road twice? Florida is resolving this possible problem before it becomes a problem. The sunshine state is planning to build roads that can be adjusted in some way for the day when connected and/or driverless vehicles begin traveling up and down its roads.
Meanwhile, on the roads of Greece, completely driverless gets a chance
Personally, I think a completely driverless vehicle is safer than a partially autonomous one. One city in Greece won the highly competitive spot to try real driverless transit on local roads - with dogs, pedestrians, bicycles, and angry human drivers - on a 1.5 mile stretch. I reported on this before the pilot program started; now the vehicles are in operation. No reports of passengers yet. There is a human monitoring the situation in a control center. He or she will be able to remotely take over the controls if need be, but the little bus is designed to travel without human control of any kind.
That article provides very good coverage of the difference between the Greek CityMobil2 project and earlier ones.
I don't have the time, but apparently these mischievous Tesla owners are posting their videos all over the place.
Apparently, I'm not the only person concerned that semi-autonomous vehicles present real dangers. State driving regulators in California are pondering this issue. They were taking their time, but will they hurry up now that the semi-autonomous Teslas are out there driving themselves on highways throughout the state? According to a Silicon Valley article, linked to above in this paragraph, all eyes are on California to issue regulations and set the model for what other states and countries should document, restrict, and allow.
And ... Tesla cars, with those hands-free drivers, perhaps some of them napping or watching videos while behind the wheel, are not considered self-driving according to current California rules. That will be one fun lawsuit when the first accident occurs because the driver did not become instantly attentive when the car alerted him or her.
California might start first driverless community
Planners developing a Southern California community to be pedestrian friendly and have supermarkets and other services within a 10-minute walk of each residence, is considering becoming the first driverless community in the U.S. as well. The idea is that when a car is needed, it can be shared and driverless.
The name is Lilac Hills Ranch, for those wanting to delve deeper.
Florida embracing driverless
Why pay to build a road twice? Florida is resolving this possible problem before it becomes a problem. The sunshine state is planning to build roads that can be adjusted in some way for the day when connected and/or driverless vehicles begin traveling up and down its roads.
Meanwhile, on the roads of Greece, completely driverless gets a chance
Personally, I think a completely driverless vehicle is safer than a partially autonomous one. One city in Greece won the highly competitive spot to try real driverless transit on local roads - with dogs, pedestrians, bicycles, and angry human drivers - on a 1.5 mile stretch. I reported on this before the pilot program started; now the vehicles are in operation. No reports of passengers yet. There is a human monitoring the situation in a control center. He or she will be able to remotely take over the controls if need be, but the little bus is designed to travel without human control of any kind.
That article provides very good coverage of the difference between the Greek CityMobil2 project and earlier ones.
Monday, October 26, 2015
It's Like Brio Trains for Driverless Cars
Universities driving forward
Stanford University engineering students have produced a driverless DeLorean that combines the practical benefits of a conventional driverless car with the advantages of a race car, the ability to precisely swerve when necessary. The thinking of this research team is that driverless vehicles will confront abnormal and dangerous conditions from time to time and they will need the algorithms and the hardware to safely maneuver.
Also out West, a professor at the University of Nevada - Reno, successfully completed a driverless trip from the US border to Mexico City. No hands, ma, for 1500 miles of Mexican highways, city streets, and desert driving. This is not the first trip for Professor Rojas, who travels in a driverless Volkswagen. The professor holds a joint appointment at a German university.
Over in Scotland, more than pretty views
A Scottish company is working on technology that will enable connected cars to operate on an electric track - sounds like a train - but different and for cars.
Stanford University engineering students have produced a driverless DeLorean that combines the practical benefits of a conventional driverless car with the advantages of a race car, the ability to precisely swerve when necessary. The thinking of this research team is that driverless vehicles will confront abnormal and dangerous conditions from time to time and they will need the algorithms and the hardware to safely maneuver.
Also out West, a professor at the University of Nevada - Reno, successfully completed a driverless trip from the US border to Mexico City. No hands, ma, for 1500 miles of Mexican highways, city streets, and desert driving. This is not the first trip for Professor Rojas, who travels in a driverless Volkswagen. The professor holds a joint appointment at a German university.
Over in Scotland, more than pretty views
A Scottish company is working on technology that will enable connected cars to operate on an electric track - sounds like a train - but different and for cars.
Steven Colbert - Ready to Go Driverless
Steven Colbert says "bring it on," basically, in this amusing video in which the late night comedian delves deep into the idea of driverless transportation. I admit that one of my children sent this to me.
The great part of this video is that Colbert shows footage of a homemade video of a person trying out the new driverless feature in Tesla cars. Colbert's commentary is really funny. I'm imagining his crappy commute from New Jersey into the city - that's New York, but with his humorous take on it. Also laughing at the idea of Colbert's enjoyment of the hands-free commute, though there's a warning to keep hands on the wheel, and his Tesla acting like an adolescent, one of the amusing analogies he makes during this video.
The great part of this video is that Colbert shows footage of a homemade video of a person trying out the new driverless feature in Tesla cars. Colbert's commentary is really funny. I'm imagining his crappy commute from New Jersey into the city - that's New York, but with his humorous take on it. Also laughing at the idea of Colbert's enjoyment of the hands-free commute, though there's a warning to keep hands on the wheel, and his Tesla acting like an adolescent, one of the amusing analogies he makes during this video.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Iowa and Canada - Contrasting Driverless Invitations
Iowa put out a general call to driverless companies in April. The state is trying to get at least one date to come calling to use what the Iowans say is a perfect testing ground for driverless vehicles - an old runway. So far, Iowa is going stag to the prom.
Perhaps Iowa's problem is that M City in Michigan is a done deal and is set up to replicate different roadway conditions. Another problem is that companies such as Google and Uber are already on public roads in California, Texas, and Pennsylvania, with other companies involved in pilots on private campuses.
Could be that Iowa needs to offer a more contemporary invitation - like the streets of Iowa City or Des Moines.
Up North, however ...
Canada's Ontario province is promising driverless something for 2016. It has a driverless planner with a two-year mandate to develop said plan. The province is operating with the belief that driverless is coming soon and it wants to be, in driving parlance, ahead of the curve.
Perhaps Iowa's problem is that M City in Michigan is a done deal and is set up to replicate different roadway conditions. Another problem is that companies such as Google and Uber are already on public roads in California, Texas, and Pennsylvania, with other companies involved in pilots on private campuses.
Could be that Iowa needs to offer a more contemporary invitation - like the streets of Iowa City or Des Moines.
Up North, however ...
Canada's Ontario province is promising driverless something for 2016. It has a driverless planner with a two-year mandate to develop said plan. The province is operating with the belief that driverless is coming soon and it wants to be, in driving parlance, ahead of the curve.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Why Gradual Autonomous Features Will Not Work - Human Nature
I agree with Alain Kornhauser - and the research that backs up his position - that the approach of Tesla and other auto manufacturers of introducing partially autonomous vehicles could well cause more crashes. Imagine drifting off to sleep in the front seat during your 50th long, boring drive somewhere. On the 51st trip, suddenly awakened, you are supposed to immediately take over the wheel in a split-second, dangerous situation.
Oh really?
Oh and you just might lose the lawsuit - unless the manufacturer settles because it does not want a stream of bad PR - because right in front of you on the dashboard is a little box with a text warning you to keep your hands on the wheel and your attention on the road at all times.
Data shows humans need a few seconds
The expectation that you take over the wheel instantly will probably not work, according to research. A study out of Stanford says that people generally need five-to-10 seconds; two will do better than one, and one is a recipe for disaster. So that little alarm to take over the wheel will probably do as well as the alarm by your bedside in terms of the time it takes to focus one's attention and to shift from watching a video, napping, daydreaming, or even blankly staring at the road to "Holy crap, what is going on and I have to do something!" And that's if you have not fallen fast asleep.
I am skeptical of this halfway technology. It can work well if it works well all the time or almost none of the time, but the idea that in a small minority of situations drivers will be instantly ready to assert themselves, no.
Oh really?
Oh and you just might lose the lawsuit - unless the manufacturer settles because it does not want a stream of bad PR - because right in front of you on the dashboard is a little box with a text warning you to keep your hands on the wheel and your attention on the road at all times.
Data shows humans need a few seconds
The expectation that you take over the wheel instantly will probably not work, according to research. A study out of Stanford says that people generally need five-to-10 seconds; two will do better than one, and one is a recipe for disaster. So that little alarm to take over the wheel will probably do as well as the alarm by your bedside in terms of the time it takes to focus one's attention and to shift from watching a video, napping, daydreaming, or even blankly staring at the road to "Holy crap, what is going on and I have to do something!" And that's if you have not fallen fast asleep.
I am skeptical of this halfway technology. It can work well if it works well all the time or almost none of the time, but the idea that in a small minority of situations drivers will be instantly ready to assert themselves, no.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Japan and the World Figuring Out Law for Driverless
Japan is busy getting ready for the 2020 Olympics and not just with athletic facilities. In addition to its vow to supply Olympic guests with driverless taxis, some of the country's legislative minds are examining the laws that govern motor vehicle travel and what needs to be changed to allow for commonplace driverless traveling. New Japanese legislative language is being considered.
The Asia Review article also declares changes that amendments to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic must be in place before driverless vehicles pop up on roads throughout the world. The Convention, according to the article, assumes that a human driver will be present to operate each vehicle.
Where's Murphy now?
The Japanese, apparently, are being thorough, looking at different aspects of what could go wrong on any particular day with a driverless vehicle - or, presumably, a connected caravan of vehicles. Hacking and accidents, yes, but also a terrorist or common criminal physically messing with the vehicle or its occupants, and, of course, terrorist hacking as well. Let's not forget the less-than-glamorous run-of-the-mill crash, which, we all assume, will be much less frequent with driverless technology, but will (I assume) sometimes happen.
Back to the Treaty
There are two treaties, the Vienna Convention and the Geneva Convention, though the latter has more signatories and the United States has only signed on to the Geneva.
The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (thank you Wikisource) explicitly states:
One legal commentator, Bryant Walker Smith, has stated that "driver" and "control" can be interpreted to allow for remote control of one person somewhere connected to the traveling vehicle, but personally, I have a problem with such a loose, attenuated employment of language. Better, in my opinion, to have clear language specifically crafted with driverless vehicles in mind.
Plus, to support my opinion, the Geneva convention is primarily used to allow for drivers to be able to legally drive outside of their home country's borders. It was specifically set up for the convenience of human drivers.
One exception to my opinion - If a law does not mention that a driver must be present or in control, then just leave it as is and add sections as necessary.
The Asia Review article also declares changes that amendments to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic must be in place before driverless vehicles pop up on roads throughout the world. The Convention, according to the article, assumes that a human driver will be present to operate each vehicle.
Where's Murphy now?
The Japanese, apparently, are being thorough, looking at different aspects of what could go wrong on any particular day with a driverless vehicle - or, presumably, a connected caravan of vehicles. Hacking and accidents, yes, but also a terrorist or common criminal physically messing with the vehicle or its occupants, and, of course, terrorist hacking as well. Let's not forget the less-than-glamorous run-of-the-mill crash, which, we all assume, will be much less frequent with driverless technology, but will (I assume) sometimes happen.
Back to the Treaty
There are two treaties, the Vienna Convention and the Geneva Convention, though the latter has more signatories and the United States has only signed on to the Geneva.
The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (thank you Wikisource) explicitly states:
- Every vehicle or combination of vehicles proceeding as a unit shall have a driver.
- Convoys of vehicles and animals shall have the number of drivers prescribed by domestic regulations.
- Drivers shall at all times be able to control their vehicles or guide their animals. When approaching other road users, they shall take such precautions as may be required for the safety of the latter.
One legal commentator, Bryant Walker Smith, has stated that "driver" and "control" can be interpreted to allow for remote control of one person somewhere connected to the traveling vehicle, but personally, I have a problem with such a loose, attenuated employment of language. Better, in my opinion, to have clear language specifically crafted with driverless vehicles in mind.
Plus, to support my opinion, the Geneva convention is primarily used to allow for drivers to be able to legally drive outside of their home country's borders. It was specifically set up for the convenience of human drivers.
One exception to my opinion - If a law does not mention that a driver must be present or in control, then just leave it as is and add sections as necessary.
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