Uber Suspends Self-Driving Vehicle Program After Accident

[FrodosNewPet]

Source: Wall Street Journal

Police say another car failed to yield to the Uber; no one was seriously injured

By Greg Bensinger | Updated March 25, 2017 5:33 p.m. ET

Uber Technologies Inc. said on Saturday it is suspending testing of its autonomous vehicles after one of the autos was involved in an accident in Tempe, Ariz., a dramatic halt to one of the most high-profile self-driving programs.

The ride-hailing company is pulling vehicles from streets in Pittsburgh, Tempe and California while it investigates the incident in which a Volvo XC90 sport-utility vehicle operated by Uber was upended.

~ snip ~

Like many technology companies, including rival Alphabet’s Waymo, Uber is investing heavily in self-driving vehicles with the belief they will reduce fatalities and improve fuel and traffic efficiency by limiting human error.

But the technology is still many years from being ready. Uber, for instance, typically puts two employees in each vehicle, one in the driver seat who can take control when needed and another with a computer to monitor the auto’s efficacy. Customers could also hail the self-driving cars in the test program, accompanied by Uber employees.

~ snip ~

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/uber-suspends-self-driving-vehicle-program-after-accident-1490468860

[nitpicker]

1. Link to BBC

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39397211

[rgbecker]

2. I think self driving cars are Popular Science wet dreams that will come about

as soon as the flying cars predicted in the 50's are in production.

Where I live, the cars will find themselves unable to enter the four lane turning left all morning and half the afternoon. It takes more than computing power to determine if an oncoming driver will yield if you pull into the slight gap left by his lack of aggressiveness. Oh, then there is the friendly driver who waves you ahead with a simple nod or smile.....will the Uber self driver pick up on that? Ever?

The billions being thrown at this technology shows the unbalanced nature of the spread of wealth across America. Monies that should go to a list of real public needs. I won't bother listing those as anyone on the DU has that list on instant recall at any moment.

[FrodosNewPet]

6. This flying car will be ready for take off in 2017

This flying car will be ready for take off in 2017

http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/17/autos/aeromobil-flying-car/index.html

by Aaron Smith | March 17, 2015: 12:16 PM ET

~ snip ~

The company claims on its site that the vehicle "transforms in seconds from an automobile to an airplane" by using "existing infrastructure created for automobiles and planes."

The vehicle is gas-powered and has wings that fold, which allows it to be parked like a car, though it is nearly 20 feet long.

The company's web site features a video where the AeroMobil 3.0 drives out of a hangar and goes down a highway, sharing the road with regular cars until it arrives at an airstrip. The car then unfolds its wings and takes off from a stretch of grass, rather than a paved tarmac, and flies through the air like any other small airplane.

AeroMobil spokesman Stefan Vadocz said his company hasn't nailed down an exact price because it's not ready yet.

~ snip ~

[MineralMan]

8. Do you have any idea how many times flying car start-up companies have

gotten to this stage? None have survived long enough to go into full production. Mostly, they have been deep money pits that investors have dumped wheelbarrows of money into.

http://www.complex.com/sports/2013/06/a-history-of-the-flying-car/
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/g2021/history-of-flying-car/

For many reasons, it's a chump investment. The primary reason is flight regulations, really. Just imagine a rush hour in Los Angeles full off flying cars with someone at the controls putting on her mascara or checking his latest tweets. It's a laughable joke, really.

[MineralMan]

3. Self-driving cars are neither.

Computers are not any sort of "self." They cannot reason, nor can they think. Self-driving cars also do not actually drive themselves. There is nobody at the controls, in the final phase of this. They are not being "driven" at all.

As long as nothing unexpected or irrational happens in the traffic around them, the programming of the computer can operate the vehicle from one place to another. As long as...

This is a technology that will not be allowed on public highways, nor should it be allowed.

[FrodosNewPet]

5. They are already allowed on the public roads in several states

California recently dropped the requirement for steering controls and pedals.

- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-10/california-says-autonomous-cars-don-t-need-human-drivers

Naturally, the auto capital, Michigan, legalized them last December. Can't afford to lose that leadership position.

- http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2016/12/09/autonomous-car-law/95199544/

People are investing far too much money into the technology for the politicians to say "No!". Anyone who objects in any way is branded a progress hating Luddite and reminded of the fall of buggy whip manufacturers. Add on the aging of the population, the general hatred of taxi drivers and the increasingly poor reputation of rideshare drivers, there is a lot of pressure to make it happen.

So ready or not, they are coming.

[MineralMan]

7. We shall see.

[Bengus81]

4. Give it up Uber...I'll never ride in one. Try using a HUMAN!!