Another failure of auto technology.
Electric carmaker Tesla says a vehicle involved in a fatal crash in California was in Autopilot mode, raising further questions about the safety of self-driving technology.
I’m all for technology in vehicles that improve driver and rider safety or comfort. However, I’ll be damned if I let it drive the thing.
But they did not say whether the system had detected the concrete barrier.
I’m pretty sure that unlike an autonomous vehicle, I can detect a concrete barrier and avoid hitting it.
“The driver had received several visual and one audible hands-on warning earlier in the drive,” a statement on the company’s website said.
“The driver’s hands were not detected on the wheel for six seconds prior to the collision.”
“The driver had about five seconds and 150m (490ft) of unobstructed view of the concrete divider… but the vehicle logs show that no action was taken,” the statement added.
As the Tesla is not fully autonomous, something else was going on. The driver had switched on the autopilot – and it would seem, trusted it so implicitly forgot to pay attention to the road. Personally, I don’t even like the cruise control fitted to my vehicles, preferring the subtle and constant adjustments I make to the varying road conditions.
The accident in California comes at a difficult time for self-driving technology.
You don’t say…
New form of suicide?
Russian roulette with five rounds in a six shooter?
With more probability of an insurance and damage payout.
Most interesting video (don’t fuss about the title being in another language) the video’s all in English.
It shows a Tesla person trying to emulate the Uber accident. Three times he tries, three times he fails.
http://www.motorbox.com/tecnologia/tesla-autpilot-alla-prova-con-simulazione-incidente-uber-fallisce
There’s another thing to note. The Uber was in a 40mph speed limit, this one’s not, it’s slower. And it still fails.
Same here, I want to concentrate on piloting vehicle – anything removing that results in loss of attention & complacency.
Do you not play the “cruise control game”? i.e. the one where, on a motorway, you see how far you can travel purely on the cruise mode, and using forward planning and just the buttons on the steering to adjust your speed?
Late at night, I have found it quite a good mind-exerciser in circumstances where concentration can wander. My record is 78 miles BTW, southbound on the M6 very late at night, from Tebay services to south of Manchester…
I have tried it, which is why I know I don’t like it. The buttons lack the fine control of the throttle/gas pedal.
Ha ha! Yeah, a microprocessor controlling minute variations at millionth of second intervals is less accurate than you’re arthritic wank hand 🙂
There’s no accounting for the moron in the other car, crashing a bloody great 4 x 4 about in Tesco’s car park, and bashing into you…
Maybe some time in the future this stuff will work but it certainly doesn’t at present and needs a lot more development. The partly autonomous system where the driver has to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t screw up is a non starter really. It would appear that by the time the driver realises that the car isn’t going to avoid an obstacle on its own it is already too late to intervene.
Regarding cruise control, I have only just bought a car that is equipped with it so I haven’t fully formed my opinion. It seems to make long drives feel less tiring. It also reduces the risk of inadvertently exceeding the speed limit. On the other hand I take your point about keeping concentration levels up and I shall be monitoring whether I find this to be a problem.
Mine has a speed limiter that is useful in those interminable 50mph roadworks. The problem with the cruise control is a lack of control. In reality, we are constantly making slight pressure adjustments on the gas pedal in response to varying conditions. Take that away and the drive is less controlled. The buttons take time to react. I don’t like it at all. I’ve got it on the bike. I’ve tried it once or twice – it is useful for a moment or two to take my right hand off the throttle and flex my fingers, but that’s about it.
Bah humbug, I have to use left hand to control throttle to exercise right hand.
OT: Have you ever pee’d in your gloves/boots?
Er, no.
Maybe a northern thing where it’s cold & wet. I haven’t, but friends have.
I’ve ruined soaked gloves by hugging engine.
That’s why we have heated grips.
I had/have heated grips. First were “Hot Grips” a personal import from USA as none in UK (thanks “Dirt Bike” mag). Little help when like today it’s <0C and wet snow falling – 5" now. Wet + <0C + windchill = ineffective.
You southerners don't know what cold is 😉
This was first I bought
http://www.hotgrips.com/store.php?crn=203&rn=119&action=show_detail
Both my bikes have the factory fitted grips. They are fine for sub-zero temperatures. I also use a heated jacket, which keeps my core warm, so the blood supply to the extremities isn’t restricted.
How far north are you!?! You’re not in Leggy country are you?
Having had a bit of time to play with the cruise control I actually quite like it. I only use it on motorways and dual carriageways where the traffic is light so that I don’t keep having to adjust it or to keep turning it on and off. If I have junctions or traffic to deal with I don’t bother adjusting it up and down, I just turn it off and take back control.
Ahhh, so computers are helpful when you can’t control your speed in roadworks? Why? I thought your throttle control was far better and more finessed than any computer?
If you can’t respond without ad homs fuck off. And anyone who uses the term “flat earther” loses all credibility. Although in your case, you have nothing to lose.
Just about every comment you have left here has consisted of logical fallacy and the above examples of idiocy are no exception.
A blog is like entering someone’s home. You are a guest. Guests are expected to engage with basic courtesy. If you choose to behave like a self-righteous, pompous, patronising prick then you will be asked to leave.
My patience has now run out. So it’s up to you. You can put forward a contrary argument without logical fallacy and insult, as others have done, or you can pack your bags. You won’t be missed.
The technology just isn’t mature enough for real world operation. Mind you, I could say that of a lot of human drivers too.
“Mind you, I could say that of a lot of human drivers too.”
Two recent examples of poor observation and anticipation of hazards. On a longish journey we pulled off a dual carriageway to eat some sandwiches. The road is a little busy but there are plenty of long gaps in the traffic for you to rejoin when you are ready. There is a car parked ahead of us who is ready to leave, he waits for a good long gap, pulls out and accelerates away. One car then comes down the road, nothing behind or to the side of him and all the time in the world to move into the overtaking lane. Instead, he drives right up behind the still accelerating car, brakes and only then moves over to pass.
In our area there are several factories that build holiday homes, either static caravans or chalets that are transported in two halves. When these are on the back of a truck they overhang quite a bit on either side. They are marked on the corners with brightly coloured warning triangles and a van festooned with flashing lights and sporting the words “CAUTION WIDE LOAD” drives along a short distance ahead of them. I watched slightly bemused as the car ahead of me only noticed the thing coming toward him at the very last minute and swerved to the left to avoid it.
Flatearthers poppycock! How many deaths are caused by human error? 1 autonomous car death, not actually caused by the autonomous car, but BY THE HUMAN, and suddenly it proves you’re twisted theory. I’m guessing you don’t ever use airlines for travel, seeing how most modern aircraft are not actually flyable without the computers carrying out all the work.
Cruise control is useful when you get ankle cramp.
I used to have to change feet on accelerator pedal just so I could waggle my right ankle.
Had to wait for a nice long stretch of uncomplicated traffic.
Likewise with the bike as mentioned above. It allows me a moment or two to ease the wrist and fingers of my right hand as they tend to tense up on long journeys. But only for a moment or two.