Driverless Taxi in The Villages?

[mtdjed]

About a year ago there was an attempt to get a driverless taxi into The Villages. Saw the car several times "being trained". Haven't seen any recent activity or updates. Anyone know what happened?

[Mortal1]

Nope. When/if it happens you'll hear/read about it...have no fear... :-)

[EdFNJ]

It had an accident with a driverless golf cart and it can't come back until they settle with Dan in judge-less court.

[Northerner52]

Last I heard it couldn't figure out the round-a-bouts. Driverless cars nationwide has been a pipe dream. Billions wasted on glorified cruise control. Impossible to duplicate the human eye and brain.

[Stu from NYC]

Last I heard there were 2 of them and they are locked in a demolition derby on one of our round a bouts.

[davem4616]

obviously they didn't have all the kinks worked out...so it's back to the drawing board

otherwise it would have made front page news 'above the fold'

[biker1]

Waymo has been quite successful within the geomapped areas they operate. They still have a "driver" on board but they essentially operate autonomously. The Holy Grail is completely autonomous driving without having to geomap the area. Probably 10 years out for urban areas - the most difficult. Tesla's Autopilot (non-geomapped) driving on highways is becoming pretty good but still not quite there yet - drivers must still keep their hands on the wheel. Go test drive a Tesla and you will be surprised. The advantage of autonomous driving is the elimination of the mistakes by people. Computers don't become distracted, like people do, and they don't drink. Accident rates should drop as it goes mainstream. Regarding duplicating the human brain, I remember when it was assumed that a computer chess program could never defeat a Grandmaster. Look how that turned out.

Last I heard it couldn't figure out the round-a-bouts. Driverless cars nationwide has been a pipe dream. Billions wasted on glorified cruise control. Impossible to duplicate the human eye and brain.

[Number 10 GI]

The software code writers haven't been able to create a program that can anticipate the actions of people who shouldn't even be behind the wheel of a pedal car.

[biker1]

People doing the driving can't either.

The software code writers haven't been able to create a program that can anticipate the actions of people who shouldn't even be behind the wheel of a pedal car.

[rjm1cc]

The answer is easy. Just stop the driverless car until only drivers that know what they are doing are driving.

[Stu from NYC]

The answer is easy. Just stop the driverless car until only drivers that know what they are doing are driving.

They are doing that on the planet Neutron.

[Paul1934]

Been driving for over55 years, personal, law enforcement, wheel to wheel racing (prewar sports to open wheel formula Fords) and the last thing I want is a computer dictating to me how to react to a developing situation I have been watching unfold for miles. Unsure if computers are looking in their mirrors as a lot of incidents are exacerbated by sudden may bed into harms way.

[Paul1934]

That is ‘sudden moves into harms way’ (bloody computer control of spelling/entries making my point) also computer has no way of knowing how inept the other driver is, or whether they got the message on how the computer is planning on reacting to a third party....

[Stu from NYC]

Especially if one computer driven car is following another one with a different code giving different instructions.

[JoMar]

More clueless posts from those that don't understand the technology, of course they probably don't fly or go on cruise ships either. The good news is the generations behind us will accept it, we don't need to.

[Number 10 GI]

More clueless posts from those that don't understand the technology, of course they probably don't fly or go on cruise ships either. The good news is the generations behind us will accept it, we don't need to.

So you would feel absolutely safe flying on a plane with no pilot or on a cruise ship without a navigator? All technology fails at some time. The technology apparently isn't good enough yet and may be decades down the road before it is.

[Stu from NYC]

More clueless posts from those that don't understand the technology, of course they probably don't fly or go on cruise ships either. The good news is the generations behind us will accept it, we don't need to.

Computers are taking over more and more of the actual work of driving a car, plane or cruise ship. Not quite there yet for taking over driving but getting there.

Have been on the bridge of a modern cruise ship and once the course is laid they still monitor the computer to make sure it is not malfunctioning.

[biker1]

You mean instructions such as stay in the lane, stop for stop signs and stop lights, maintain distance from the car in front, change lanes when it is clear to do so, observe the speed limit, etc. You know, the things that people do. You might want to use Google to find out how autonomous systems actually work. Tesla uses a neural network trained by data collected by the Tesla fleet of cars.

Especially if one computer driven car is following another one with a different code giving different instructions.

[GoPacers]

Self driving cars and trucks are coming. The technology is there and 5G will only accelerate the efforts.

Just today there was an article that a fighter pilot lost 5-0 to a computer in a simulated dog fight.

AI thrashes human fighter pilot 5-0 in simulated F-16 dogfights | New Scientist (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2252760-ai-thrashes-human-fighter-pilot-5-0-in-simulated-f-16-dogfights/#:~:text=AN%20AI%20pilot%20has%20defeated,first%20 contest%20of%20its%20kind).

[Two Bills]

It's here, it works, and will only get better.
The doubters said the same things when the combustion engine started to replace horses!

[Windguy]

Last I heard it couldn't figure out the round-a-bouts. Driverless cars nationwide has been a pipe dream. Billions wasted on glorified cruise control. Impossible to duplicate the human eye and brain.
And all the money developing and perfecting cars themselves was an incredible waste when horses got the job done just fine.

[Stu from NYC]

And all the money developing and perfecting cars themselves was an incredible waste when horses got the job done just fine.

But the droppings were a bit of a pain

[Two Bills]

But the droppings were a bit of a pain

Our roses love them!

[stadry]

d-less trks will be operating on the road next year

[kimreniska@mac.com]

Last I heard it couldn't figure out the round-a-bouts. Driverless cars nationwide has been a pipe dream. Billions wasted on glorified cruise control. Impossible to duplicate the human eye and brain.

Who would want to duplicate the human driver? Humans are notoriously bad drivers!
:icon_wink:

[J1ceasar]

If God wanted us to have driverless cars he would have invented taxis. In all seriousness the trouble with driverless cars is that the programmers will never figure out the potential of any situation I can possibly think of. The old morality question oh which lane to Swerve to when there are cars in both lanes one of which has six children the other lane has a bus what's 50 people is not solvable

[Suzieque]

The older we get, the more we will need these!

[gpk111]

Tesla Autonomy Day 2019 - Full Self-Driving Autopilot - Complete Investor Conference Event - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b041NXGPZ8)

Rather than wildly speculating and citing preconceptions, take a look at this presentation to learn about the state of autonomous driving. It's over a year old, but very educational. Starts at 42:00.

Anxious to hear comments after watching!.

[Two Bills]

If God wanted us to have driverless cars he would have invented taxis. In all seriousness the trouble with driverless cars is that the programmers will never figure out the potential of any situation I can possibly think of. The old morality question oh which lane to Swerve to when there are cars in both lanes one of which has six children the other lane has a bus what's 50 people is not solvable

Go for the six kids car.
You and them have more chance of surviving.
Never take on a bus.
Big wins in crashes!:icon_wink:

[Jensor17]

NO Thank You - I would be gritting my teeth in back seat of a car with “electronic driver”. I believe it was Tesla i read about Where A test-rider was killed when a car did not brake !

[biker1]

You don't have to solve that problem for autonomous driving to be a huge benefit. There will always be situations with only bad outcomes. The promise, and potential, of autonomous driving is a big decrease in accidents in general and a big decrease in situations that only have bad outcomes.

If God wanted us to have driverless cars he would have invented taxis. In all seriousness the trouble with driverless cars is that the programmers will never figure out the potential of any situation I can possibly think of. The old morality question oh which lane to Swerve to when there are cars in both lanes one of which has six children the other lane has a bus what's 50 people is not solvable

[Pickleballer3]

Has anyone been in the Round Abouts with some of the drivers here?? Many of the cars should be equipped with computers or monkey drivers, we would all be much safer! Ha!

[toeser]

Last I heard it couldn't figure out the round-a-bouts. Driverless cars nationwide has been a pipe dream. Billions wasted on glorified cruise control. Impossible to duplicate the human eye and brain.

Hardly impossible. It's only a matter of time. Kids today will see fully functional androids within their lifetime.

[Astron]

More clueless posts from those that don't understand the technology, of course they probably don't fly or go on cruise ships either. The good news is the generations behind us will accept it, we don't need to.
The technology nay sayers and outright luddites will need to face the fact that even now computers can do a better job driving than many people. In a short time they will out perform any human. Resistance is futile. 🖖🏼

[jimjamuser]

Waymo has been quite successful within the geomapped areas they operate. They still have a "driver" on board but they essentially operate autonomously. The Holy Grail is completely autonomous driving without having to geomap the area. Probably 10 years out for urban areas - the most difficult. Tesla's Autopilot (non-geomapped) driving on highways is becoming pretty good but still not quite there yet - drivers must still keep their hands on the wheel. Go test drive a Tesla and you will be surprised. The advantage of autonomous driving is the elimination of the mistakes by people. Computers don't become distracted, like people do, and they don't drink. Accident rates should drop as it goes mainstream. Regarding duplicating the human brain, I remember when it was assumed that a computer chess program could never defeat a Grandmaster. Look how that turned out.
Very informative, kudos.

[jimjamuser]

More clueless posts from those that don't understand the technology, of course they probably don't fly or go on cruise ships either. The good news is the generations behind us will accept it, we don't need to.
Good philosophic overview.

[jimjamuser]

You mean instructions such as stay in the lane, stop for stop signs and stop lights, maintain distance from the car in front, change lanes when it is clear to do so, observe the speed limit, etc. You know, the things that people do. You might want to use Google to find out how autonomous systems actually work. Tesla uses a neural network trained by data collected by the Tesla fleet of cars.
So far your's is the only poat that actually teaches the reader anything. Keep up the good work!

[OhioBuckeye]

About a year ago there was an attempt to get a driverless taxi into The Villages. Saw the car several times "being trained". Haven't seen any recent activity or updates. Anyone know what happened?

Thanks for the update, but I never gave it any thought why we haven't heard anything about the driverless cars except I thought may they must of passed the test. Hope everybody in Golf Cart was OK. Seriously I can't believe our govt. would approve of these driverless cars when we are forced to get buy Ins. even if we've never had an accident. I would be more worried about the other person running into a driverless car! But thanks for the update

[dtennent]

In 1951 when I was born, space travel was in comic books, only Dick Tracey had a phone on his wrist, and computers filled large rooms. The hardware and software in computers is still evolving at a tremendous pace. Personally, I look forward to when all cars are driverless as it will help me live independently in 20 years and keep me safe from many of the idiots (alcohol induced or lack of common sense) who drive carelessly on the road.