Self-driving Uber car kills pedestrian in Tempe, AZ

I have not even tried to let radar cruise stop the car.

 

Oh don't get me started (again). You're on the mark here; software is DEFINITELY a problem!! They don't want to get it right the first time because of their GREED, and the inability of the miserable, nearly powerless clients to effectively kick back!! I say, Sue the SOB's for their unethical, work-destroying incompetence. I wonder if anyone has studied the amount of lost productivity, and costs to our country, and the rest of the world.
Sure there are innovations, but this doesn't excuse shoddy workmanship. Duh, I've designed an autonomous car; sure, it kills people, but too bad, and we'll fix it, Someday!

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AChoiredTaste.com

 

It does, but you know if it fails, you're probably going to be stuck facing the rap!!
Why take the risk, when there's so much at stake!

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Some drivers assume they can remove themselves from the driving equation. This one, sadly, did so permanently!

 

First off, the most important thing is to feel comfortable with the technology and achieving safe operation. Still I'd like to share my understanding:

What I've found is the speed difference is key to safely letting the car come to a stop:

1. If already following a car with the vehicle icon lit because your set speed is higher than that car, it is safe to let your car come to a stop under dynamic cruise control. The icon shows the car is already ranging the distance and relative speed, you can use it but monitor incase something goes BOINK.
2. If approaching stopped traffic at an intersection, MANUALLY brake. Those cars are outside the distance range and the car doesn't know they are there, much less the relative speed difference. Once the closing distance is 3-5 car lengths and deceleration safe, it is OK to re-engage the dynamic cruise control and let the car handle the final stopping distance. However, it takes 'pucker power' to learn how this works, to judge speed and distance, and I do not recommend it for non-technical people.

So the irony is the safest way to operate dynamic cruise control in traffic is with the set speed higher than surrounding traffic so the electronic sensors can measure the distance and closing rate of the leading vehicle. In effect, 'drafting' with electronic, safe distance following enabled.

By no means do I want to impose my driving style on others. You must operate the car in a way that is safe for your driving style. Rather, I wanted to explain how I use this tool on both our BMW i3-REx and Prius Prime.

Bob Wilson

 

'monitor in case something goes BOINK' is where some people fail, i think. thankfully, he hit an inanimate object.

 

Maybe Toyota, or whomever, could offer a site where we could SAFELY try out our Primes' new technology toys without risk of injury, death or damage. It might be like we did time trials in the Alfa Club, only these would be Safety Trials, to foster consumer knowledge and appreciation for these fine cars.

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When the Tesla hit the fire truck: Tesla 'on Autopilot' slams into parked fire truck

One report indicated the Tesla was following another pickup that changed lane before the stopped fire truck. The Tesla was unable to recognize the stopped vehicle and respond quickly enough. Steering to evade the crash would have been the 'less bad' response ... evasive driving.

Safe driving means not only detecting obstacles but evasive driving too. So far, I've not read about automated, evasive driving.

Bob Wilson

 

sometimes you see things happen ahead of you, and slow down, or move over. that would take some pretty sophisticated ai, one would think.

 

We often get a glimpse of emergency vehicle lights as short snippets in front of traffic. These are recognized by color and flashing patterns. Sometimes can hear emergency vehicle sirens and horns. This is an area where vehicle-to-vehicle communications can reach out to blind spots on the far side of vehicles around the car.

Bob Wilson

 

That may be first mention of sound on this thread. I think it is extremely important. Unless I am mistaken, autonomous vehicles are stone-cold deaf. To what extent would your driving skills be diminished if you could never hear anything outside vehicle?

Previously we have discussed blind pedestrians being at a disadvantage. From personal experience on bicycle I know hearing contributes much to spatial awareness.

 

Yes, you are mistaken. Tire noise and cooling fans make a lot of noise even at parking lot speeds. Also, some electric drivetrains make more noise (high pitch whine) than others; EV racers are an extreme example.

A vehicle traveling at 35-45mph is making a lot of tire and wind noise. And lets not forget the car had headlights on (it was night) which give a tremendously longer warning interval to a pedestrian; unless the pedestrian is distracted or impaired or....... autonomous savvy having recognized the large LIDAR unit affix to the roof and thought, "oh those vehicles will stop for me".

I mention the latter because it was years ago that I read here of one California PC member saying some locals had learned they could skip waiting their turn at a 4-way stop if the other vehicle was autonomous. They quickly learned these vehicles were extra cautious and would stop (and wait) even though the autonomous vehicle had the right-of-way till the human operator finally relented and took over. (probably some 1 finger salutes involved too)

 

Perhaps unclear. What I mean is, do autonomous vehicles use external sound information to inform decision making in any way?

I realize they use LIDAR and visual (&IR) image analysis, GPS and built-in maps.

 

IDK. Sensor pickup location would be crucial if that were part of the array.

 

headphones/earbuds on drivers have been the cause of some accidents, and you can't hear emergency vehicles. they may be illegal in places.

 

What do humans use sound for?
To bring their attention to a specific direction.
Autonomous vehicles will be 'looking' in all directions at all times. So I don't believe sound would be advantageous.
That said, many/most/all do have ultrasonics. Short range and at a different frequency, but it is technically sound

 

If robot driving hears emergency vehicle sound, or hears any that could be classified as 'crunch' or 'scream', it ought to consider lower speed and perhaps move to curbside.

I agree that directional sound detection is a higher (yet attainable) goal that has not been built into programming.

 

sometimes, you hear sounds that are from something not in view yet. it may be that caution is required, or maybe not. but better to fail safely.

 

This is a fair point.
Many companies have laid out the plans for vehicles to 'talk' to one another. I would suggest, that this not only replaces the benefits of being able to 'hear' but is superior.

However, if audible cues can work sooner, and they help, then yes, I suspect that will be implemented. I would expect most vehicles being able to 'talk' to others to take many years.