Go Back   EcoModder Forum > Off-Topic > The Lounge
Register Now
 Register Now
 


Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 05-06-2015, 01:06 PM   #1 (permalink)
PSmodder lurker
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Chino
Posts: 1,605
Thanks: 26
Thanked 908 Times in 522 Posts
Autonomous Freightliner heavy-duty truck is on the road...



OK, the safe one?

Self-driving Freightliner Inspiration rolls out on public roads in Nevada - CNET

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 05-06-2015, 03:54 PM   #2 (permalink)
...beats walking...
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: .
Posts: 6,190
Thanks: 179
Thanked 1,525 Times in 1,126 Posts
Businesses are 'hell-bent' on eliminating driver's jobs...just like trains did for 'Train Conductors' and cabooses.

Who's gonna be held "liable" when GPS says "right-turn" into a grade-school instead of going straight as the road actually goes?
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2015, 05:50 PM   #3 (permalink)
PSmodder lurker
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Chino
Posts: 1,605
Thanks: 26
Thanked 908 Times in 522 Posts
Don't think the DOT AND Teamsters will allow to eliminate 'drivers'. They will still require 'operators' in those seats and for yard/dock operations. Semi-autonomous operation for long haul OTR driving will definitely help in fuel efficiencies and driver safety. Specialty drivers are still needed for special cargo and difficult roadway conditions. More like cruise control on steroids.
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2015, 10:23 PM   #4 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,395

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,192
Thanked 4,380 Times in 3,354 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Tele man View Post
Businesses are 'hell-bent' on eliminating driver's jobs...just like trains did for 'Train Conductors' and cabooses.

Who's gonna be held "liable" when GPS says "right-turn" into a grade-school instead of going straight as the road actually goes?
Trains are the easiest things to automate, and I suspect they will be sans-engineer before too long. Heck, they are already automated in places such as airports.

As for cars going into grade schools, that will happen less and less frequently as the technology is developed. We already have people driving into grade schools, so autonomous cars will likely improve on the incidence of these accidents. My mom reversed into the house at full throttle a few months back when she went to apply the brake; an accident that never would have occurred if the car was in control.

Accidents will eventually reduce to a point that vehicles won't have to be designed to survive a collision, and occupants won't have to wear seat belts or have airbags. Perhaps one day we won't even be required to carry liability insurance, or it will be so cheap as to be an insignificant cost.

Autonomous systems never get tired, never get distracted, and never get emotional. They are only prone to interpreting data incorrectly, which is a much easier problem to solve than any of the human error factors.
__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!

Last edited by redpoint5; 05-06-2015 at 10:32 PM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2015, 11:02 PM   #5 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
Then people are redundant and can be done away with altogether.
__________________


  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Frank Lee For This Useful Post:
P-hack (05-08-2015)
Old 05-07-2015, 05:15 AM   #6 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
freebeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,562
Thanks: 7,738
Thanked 8,554 Times in 7,041 Posts
These will still wear out rubber tires at the same rate.

What we need is hyperloop freight trains. Autonomous hyperloop freight trains.
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2015, 07:21 AM   #7 (permalink)
Not bad for a machine
 
dirtydave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 1,024

Maechunbu - Retired - '00 Kia Sephia 1.8I4 16VDOHC
Last 3: 45.28 mpg (US)

Slasher - '96 Chevy Corsica 2.2L 3speedauto
Duct Tape Aero Crew
Team Chevy
90 day: 34.76 mpg (US)
Thanks: 279
Thanked 242 Times in 179 Posts
I bet alot of these trucks get robbed and entire trailers get stolen.

What's going to stop you? a GPS and a camera? Pshhh good luck! all you need is a plastic bag and a can of paint for that!

It will be days before they even notice! The tractor pulls into a warehouse and parks waiting for the yard jockey to park the 53' beast. Wait no trailer?!?

Where is it? Who knows! (no one) the GPS on the trailer was disabled 3 days ago.


Don't mind me just thinking about career plan B here.......
__________________




  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to dirtydave For This Useful Post:
P-hack (05-08-2015)
Old 05-07-2015, 11:50 AM   #8 (permalink)
PSmodder lurker
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Chino
Posts: 1,605
Thanks: 26
Thanked 908 Times in 522 Posts
Future Human Unemployment

Great podcast with Martin Ford, Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future!

Review The Future | Listen via Stitcher Radio On Demand
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to botsapper For This Useful Post:
redpoint5 (05-07-2015)
Old 05-07-2015, 04:35 PM   #9 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 196
Thanks: 4
Thanked 34 Times in 26 Posts
Theft...yeah...

I used to drive a truck a hundred years ago, and I can tell you that the human drivers are not always as pure as the driven snow, and are sometimes willing participants in theft.

And lots and lots of drivers will not do much to prevent a theft if it involves their safety. "Hey, I'm not risking my neck for 15.75 an hour.

The machines don't have to be perfect, they just have to be better than humans.

The machines reportedly don't do well with poor visibility and traction problems in snow, so I'm safe from autonomous vehicles for the forseeable future.
__________________
2004 VW TDI PD on bio

want to build 150 mpg diesel streamliner.
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2015, 10:13 PM   #10 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,395

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,192
Thanked 4,380 Times in 3,354 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee View Post
Then people are redundant and can be done away with altogether.
Without people, who will choose the color of the robots?

Sounds like you might like these folks.

__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com