Driverless taxi - none too soon

[twoplanekid]

I asked about this concept coming to the Villages two years ago. For better or worse, it’s finally here. Well, the testing will start this year in TV.

While I can still drive, many can’t or should not so I am hopeful this concept will be beneficial to those in need in TV. I would love to see the computer code for handling roundabouts. :icon_wink:

https://voyage.auto/

[fw102807]

That is way cool :clap2:

[Two Bills]

Judging from my observations driving around TV. many cars have behaved and appeared driverless for quite some time!

[alemorkam]

I don't think they know what they are getting into, driving on these streets with drivers we have here.

[Madelaine Amee]

I don't think they know what they are getting into, driving on these streets with drivers we have here.

It, quite frankly, scares the hell out of me! I do think it is needed; there is a Vision Club in TV where people are having to ask for rides to doctor's appointments, eye appointments etc., or to just get to the stores for food. But, DRIVERLESS - scary proposition, plus is driverless better than hiring a taxi with a DRIVER to do the same thing?

I am a huge fan of technology, but I am not sure about driverless cars.

[EdFNJ]

Coolness factor definitely 100 but other than taking a job from a real taxi driver why bother? There really is no advantage. Not pollution advantage, no employment advantage. What would the "positives" be? It's not like this is a major metropolitan area with a cab or driver shortage.




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My user name should be EdF(formerly from)NJ and glad to be gone. [emoji3]

[Madelaine Amee]

Coolness factor definitely 100 but other than taking a job from a real taxi driver why bother? There really is no advantage. Not pollution advantage, no employment advantage. What would the "positives" be? It's not like this is a major metropolitan area with a cab or driver shortage.
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My user name should be EdF(formerly from)NJ and glad to be gone. [emoji3]

Totally agree - however, the technology would be superb if used on the battlefield to defeat terrorists. Or even used in a major city in a hostage situation. The technology itself is incredible, but totally wasted as a taxi - just my opinion! I was around the industry when GPS was first conceived for use in the Defense Industry and that technology was found to have commercial uses, so maybe driverless is on the books for other uses.

[JGVillages]

I asked about this concept coming to the Villages two years ago. For better or worse, it’s finally here. Well, the testing will start this year in TV.

While I can still drive, many can’t or should not so I am hopeful this concept will be beneficial to those in need in TV. I would love to see the computer code for handling roundabouts. :icon_wink:

https://voyage.auto/

Become an Uber Diver, follow this Taxi then when it hits someone in the roundabout (not the taxi’s fault because a majority’s of Villagers don’t know the rules) pick up the fare and complete the ride. I assume the driverless can automically cal the police????

[fw102807]

Coolness factor is enough for me. I want to be able to tell my friends I live in a retirement community that has driverless taxis. No matter how much you try to describe The Villages people still have a preconceived notion of rocking chairs and chair exercises.

[twoplanekid]

As most driverless cars are in the testing stage, a driver is required to be present to override the system as will be the case in TV. So, to have a taxi service as the test vehicle is a way to reduce development costs. They can recover some of the operating cost by charging for rides.

[kaseydog]

difficult to get around the villages if you don't drive. maybe that is why people who should not be driving anymore continue to do so.

[New Englander]

difficult to get around the villages if you don't drive. maybe that is why people who should not be driving anymore continue to do so.

:agree:

[billethkid]

I would like to see the financial justification for a driver-less vehicle.
Back up driver required? = TILT!!!! = no financial justification!!

[vintageogauge]

I would not want to be behind one waiting to get on the turnabouts.

[Retiring]

I would like to see the financial justification for a driver-less vehicle.
Back up driver required? = TILT!!!! = no financial justification!!

I believe this is more about proof of concept than turning a profit.

[JoMar]

This is just another step in the evolution.....not a final product. That's why there is a driver. Like very advance there will be failures, disasters and advances. Remember the airplane, the first cars, the space stuff. All had shortcomings and dangers, this is no different in my view. By the time it becomes common I suspect most of us won't be here to see it......or at least remember what the heck it is....:)

[Villagevip]

Will the driverless taxi expect a tip?

[Nucky]

I can't wait to hear some of the ideas that come out on this thread. It should be a Doozy. I love gadgetry but I am fundamentally, technologically, challenged. I was a partner in a Taxi business in Jersey and understand why Lyft and Uber have not taken off here but I'm not in the game anymore.

I hope these people score big time and the concept takes off, however, having nobody at the wheel is going to a tough sell.

[twoplanekid]

Interesting discussion on self-driving cars today - Our CES 2018 autonomous car panel will invite representatives from Ford, Intel and the National Conference of State Legislatures to the CNET Stage.

to view click on the link and (Watch again) then advance to 6:10:15 Watch our CES 2018 autonomous car panel: Getting From Here to There - Roadshow (https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/watch-our-ces-2018-autonomous-car-panel-getting-from-here-to-there/)

[Francie]

This technology is real and is coming not only to TV, but is being heavily tested by the trucking industry for Over the Road transportation. Think of the cost reductions for that industry. It IS coming. Think of your own situation and evaluate the true need of actually having to own a car; especially for year-round residents. Think of the HUGE cost savings of not having to own and maintain a car. While this isn't an option for everyone, it is something to think about. Most of our cars sit idle 90% of the time parked in our garage, at the store, at the doctor. You could summon a car only when you need it! This is going to have enormous implications for auto manufacturers, etc. The next 5 years is going to be fascinating.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Will the driverless taxi expect a tip?

Or talk incessantly about politics, traffic, or the weather?

[ukbill70]

If I go to the bar and have a couple too many adult beverages and decide to leave my car / Golf Cart there and get a taxi home and that driverless car gets involved in an accident could I as the sole occupant get a DUI ??

[Two Bills]

This technology is real and is coming not only to TV, but is being heavily tested by the trucking industry for Over the Road transportation. Think of the cost reductions for that industry. It IS coming. Think of your own situation and evaluate the true need of actually having to own a car; especially for year-round residents. Think of the HUGE cost savings of not having to own and maintain a car. While this isn't an option for everyone, it is something to think about. Most of our cars sit idle 90% of the time parked in our garage, at the store, at the doctor. You could summon a car only when you need it! This is going to have enormous implications for auto manufacturers, etc. The next 5 years is going to be fascinating.

Think of all the people who will lose their jobs!

[Madelaine Amee]

Personally, I would have thought this was the WRONG place to try out a driverless car. Old people, who this car is aimed at, are very stuck in their ways and I think it will take a long while to get an old person in a driverless car. I would think it would do better at an airport or city travel.

[Francie]

Two Bills - I understand. Don't shoot the messenger. They said the same thing when cars were invented. Think of all the industry surrounding the horse and buggy back in the day. It didn't stop new inventions, technologies and newly created jobs.

[NJblue]

While initially there will be a back-up driver, eventually this will be "Level 4" autonomy, meaning that there will be no driver. Therefore, ultimately there will be a cost savings.

On top of that, once the technology is beyond concept stage, it will likely be much safer to drive in an autonomous car than a human-driven one. The car's computers will be able to react within milliseconds to an emergency event rather than the significantly slower response time of a human. They will know at all times what the conditions around them are so they know whether the proper evasive response is to swerve around an incident or apply emergency braking. Its computers will obey all traffic laws, never feel drowsy from a full day of working or a hard night of partying the previous night, will never be impacted by alcohol or drugs and won't be distracted by an attractive girl walking on the sidewalk.

That being said, this may never work in a large city like NYC since the computers will be too polite to barge into traffic and hence will take forever to get anywhere.

[perrjojo]

Think of all the people who will lose their jobs!
Think of all the people who will get jobs developing the technology, building, selling and servicing the new cars. The jobs will just be different.

[villagetinker]

The article stated there would be a LIMITED service area, in the vicinity of LSL, it did not stated how far out from there. The maps for a the rapidly expanding villages are months out of date, so I do not expect this to be available anywhere south of 44. The article also stated there were going to be specialized vehicles going over the routes to make super accurate maps and not any areas of concern for safety. Once this is done the vehicles with standby drivers would take to the roads.
Having been here about 4.5 years, TV maybe an ideal location for testing, especially for the UNEXPECTED actions of some drivers, may of which have been documented in other threads on this site. The good point is that most speeds are slow enough that if there is an accident, the injuries should be minor(?).
I will be following this with great interest.

[simpkinp]

I, for one, and very excited about the whole concept. I am plied to be a volunteer or whatever for their new program. I think I would use it a lot. It’s a great thing, and technology improves our lives.

[Polar Bear]

I'm optimistic about its future, but I'm not sure I agree with those who say it's a good thing for the transportation impaired in TV. Those folks can still call a taxi, and then they have a person to help them a bit if needed. Of course if the fare for the driverless taxi is much lower, that is a big factor too. Both will probably still have a place.

[GoodLife]

The good point is that most speeds are slow enough that if there is an accident, the injuries should be minor(?).

There was an article in late December detailing 12 fatal accidents in TV in 2017, can't find it right now but I quoted it in a post here a while back. Speeds on roads with 45 MPH limit are plenty enough to kill.

[Madelaine Amee]

I'm optimistic about its future, but I'm not sure I agree with those who say it's a good thing for the transportation impaired in TV. Those folks can still call a taxi, and then they have a person to help them a bit if needed. Of course if the fare for the driverless taxi is much lower, that is a big factor too. Both will probably still have a place.

Good point Bear and one with which I totally agree. If an elderly or handicapped person calls a cab there is a good possibility that they will need assistance, either entering the vehicle or exiting the vehicle.

As someone posted, this is a great time to be alive if you are interested in technology and if you have young grandchildren for goodness sake steer them towards education, education, education, because there will be less and less jobs for those less fortunate.

[villagetinker]

The good point is that most speeds are slow enough that if there is an accident, the injuries should be minor(?).

There was an article in late December detailing 12 fatal accidents in TV in 2017, can't find it right now but I quoted it in a post here a while back. Speeds on roads with 45 MPH limit are plenty enough to kill.

Good point, I was thinking more about the roundabouts. The article was not clear at all of the specific area to be served by these vehicles, and I was just considering Buena Vista, Morse, and secondary roads, NOT 466, 466a, etc. I do agree, with you comment.

[Jdmiata]

Sounds like fun. Bring it on. Should be cheaper too , no tip required.

[mtdjed]

Are the driverless cars here? Have heard a lot of sirens around LSL all afternoon.

[Chi-Town]

Can't wait to tell Alexa to call me one of those taxis.

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

[Bay Kid]

Not a snowballs chance in h__l.

[fw102807]

Can't wait to tell Alexa to call me one of those taxis.

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

:coolsmiley:

[queasy27]

Driverless taxis (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/04/technology/driverless-cars-testing.html) are already in place in a retirement community in San Jose, CA. The article discusses some of the challenges and solutions.

[vinricci]

If the driverless car is involved in an accident how does the human driver in the other vehicle prevent the driverless car from leaving the scene?

[EdFNJ]

If the driverless car is involved in an accident how does the human driver in the other vehicle prevent the driverless car from leaving the scene?
Turns off the ignition? :jester:

[asianthree]

Bonus to use for short trip to shuttle stop to get to MCO

[OhioBuckeye]

judging from my observations driving around tv. Many cars have behaved and appeared driverless for quite some time!

that's funny, but you're right!

[OhioBuckeye]

I don't think they know what they are getting into, driving on these streets with drivers we have here.

I wonder how the state will work out the Ins. here. You get into a wreck who's the blame the Village resident or a driverless car. I hope the charge the company or the owners of these driverless cars! Yea, I know in the state of FL. it's no fault. To me that BS because if your not cited for an accident, your Ins. will still go up, I know it happen to me!

[rosie 136]

Just what the villages need, now more people can get drunk and some with no clue can go where-ever the car takes them :-) They should pass a law, after a certain age people should have to take a test on the road with all the roundabouts. Also some people don't have a license but they are allowed to drive golf-cart, DUHHHHHHH, I believe TV should look at a lot of things here and stop letting the people run it. TV is not the same as it was and not getting better. my opinion, like it or not.

[arickis]

As well as the rounabouts, how will a driverless car navigate the gate system?

[charmed59]

The Villages in San Jose, Ca also has roundabouts and golf carts, so they must have figured out that aspect. Presently, in their test in California, they don’t venture outside the Villages, so I don’t think they need to deal with gates. That might be a challenge. It’s possible Voyager would offer to upgrade the gates to also recognize window stickers. That would be awesome for all of us.

I signed up in hopes of being in their trial. They have limited the Villages which are in the first test to those around Lake Sumter. As far as I can tell it’s those between 466 and 466A.

[Marathon Man]

As well as the rounabouts, how will a driverless car navigate the gate system?

By going through the manned gates I would guess. There are some areas that can not be reached by going through a manned gate, so I guess the cars would not go there. At least not for this test phase that we are hearing about.

[twoplanekid]

I discussed Voyage initial test operations and their future goals in the Villages with a Voyage representative today at the VHA Hoedown. Their plans include becoming a permanent service in the villages providing taxi services for less.

During the yearlong testing phase, a driver and technician will be in the car to monitor all systems. Eventually, test drives will encompass all of TV. At some point in late 2018 or in 2019 the cars will not need Voyage people monitors in the cars.

They hope to have a fleet of 5 to 10 Chrysler Pacifica Minivans for their self-driving taxi service in TV. The goal is to charge 20% less than Uber or other competitors.

It will take time for all things to work out. I do believe that safe and inexpensive transportation for those in need of that service in TV may come from this futuristic concept.

https://voyage.auto/community/the-villages-florida/

[villagetinker]

As well as the rounabouts, how will a driverless car navigate the gate system?

The gate system should not be a problem, each taxi would be equipped with a gate access card. However, if the card reader does not work, TV may need to work with the taxi company for a work around, since there would not be a driver to press the red button.

I have had success having many readers pick up my card without the need to put down the window, but not all of them, so it appears there maybe some sensitivity issues.

On a side note, I wonder if the "driver" and technician will get hazardous duty pay until these vehicles understand TV and TV drivers......:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Barefoot]

this is just another step in the evolution.....not a final product. That's why there is a driver. Like very advance there will be failures, disasters and advances. Remember the airplane, the first cars, the space stuff. All had shortcomings and dangers, this is no different in my view. By the time it becomes common i suspect most of us won't be here to see it......or at least remember what the heck it is....:)
:agree:

[Amb3rTastic]

Best of luck to Mr Robot trying to drive safely around here.

[asianthree]

Since the car will have sensors and automatic breaking, will be safer than some who get behind the wheel in TV. Drivers in many parts of Florida drive the same as in TV, it’s an older driver population.

Thinking of applying for the observation driver, just for shi*s and giggles. Guess it would be out of the question to try to convince riders that the car is haunted with those who have made bad driving choices in their past life, and have become civil servents and used all their help vouchers. (Reference Beetle juice movie):girlneener: