Ability of Self Driving Cars

[Badger 2006]

Last evening driving north on I75 from Wesley Chapel to The Villages we encountered blinding torrential rain that slowed speeds to a crawl for 30 minutes, and forced us to exit for awhile until it subsided. Until we moved to Florida 20+ years ago we never encountered such blinding downpours. My car’s displayed a message that it’s radar systems (lane departure/etc) were unable to operate under these conditions. Do these Self Driving vehicles have 100% ability to operate under conditions as these? Scary!

[fdpaq0580]

Last evening driving north on I75 from Wesley Chapel to The Villages we encountered blinding torrential rain that slowed speeds to a crawl for 30 minutes, and forced us to exit for awhile until it subsided. Until we moved to Florida 20+ years ago we never encountered such blinding downpours. My car’s displayed a message that it’s radar systems (lane departure/etc) were unable to operate under these conditions. Do these Self Driving vehicles have 100% ability to operate under conditions as these? Scary!

Sorry you got caught in the downpour, but glad you did the safe thing by slowing down and getting off the road until safe to proceed.
As to self driving cars, rest assured that before AI take over the roads, newer, better tech will be in the "drivers seat". Human drivers, from the youngest to the oldest are extremely fallible. Each thinks their way is best. AI doesn't have ego and attitude playing a part in highway transportation. Like an elevator. You will get in the car and it will calculate route, speed, etc to get you to your destination in the safest and most efficient manner. No slow drivers hogging the left lane. No speeders zipping in and out of traffic. My only regret is I won't be around to enjoy it.

[tophcfa]

Last evening driving north on I75 from Wesley Chapel to The Villages we encountered blinding torrential rain that slowed speeds to a crawl for 30 minutes, and forced us to exit for awhile until it subsided. Until we moved to Florida 20+ years ago we never encountered such blinding downpours. My car’s displayed a message that it’s radar systems (lane departure/etc) were unable to operate under these conditions. Do these Self Driving vehicles have 100% ability to operate under conditions as these? Scary!

They don’t have 100% ability to operate under ANY conditions.

[dewilson58]

They don’t have 100% ability to operate under ANY conditions.

Bingo.

[villagetinker]

I have seen similar messages on ours even under moderate to heavy rains, a lot depends on where and how the sensor(s) are mounted, in any case our system disengaged, and we had to manually maintain a safe speed.

By the way, I do not consider ANY car to be capable of self driving except in ideal conditions, and then they may only be marginal.

[Keefelane66]

If the TSR can’t recognize speed signs and can’t pick up the traffic markings on the road, prepare to take control.

[Djean1981]

I would never trust it. I have a Kia nero hybrid. It has lane assistance. It "helps" keeps you in the lane. Of course, unless.. the painted lines are faded, or the painted lines are yellow, etc. It can also pull you off to an exit..

[biker1]

Actually that is not true. Waymo operates an autonomous ride service in the Phoenix area. It is limited to those areas that have been geomapped, IIRC. In other words, it is not available everywhere. I’m sure there are some weather conditions that cause suspension of the service. It’s “eyes” are predominately LIDAR.


They don’t have 100% ability to operate under ANY conditions.

[Babufrick]

That is normal. Have received this notice many times in bad weather. Its referenced in the car manual

[photo1902]

Actually that is not true. Waymo operates an autonomous ride service in the Phoenix area. It is limited to those areas that have been geomaped, IIRC. In other words, it is not available everywhere. I’m sure there are some weather conditions that cause suspension of the service. It’s “eyes” are predominately LIDAR.

Along with these, less than an hour south of us.

Move Nona | Beep (https://ridebeep.com/location/move-nona/)

[thevillages2013]

Actually that is not true. Waymo operates an autonomous ride service in the Phoenix area. It is limited to those areas that have been geomaped, IIRC. In other words, it is not available everywhere. I’m sure there are some weather conditions that cause suspension of the service. It’s “eyes” are predominately LIDAR.

Those dust storms in Arizona would definitely cripple that operation. I only experienced it one time but it is amazing.

[biker1]

LIDAR, which is a laser based system, and vision (cameras) are the two predominant systems that are being used in the effort to create Level 5 autonomous driving. Much like human beings’ vision, if the atmospheric conditions are such that these systems are compromised then driving will not be possible. I have driven a couple of Teslas and while they are still at Level 2 it was impressive.


Those dust storms in Arizona would definitely cripple that operation. I only experienced it one time but it is amazing.

[fdpaq0580]

They don’t have 100% ability to operate under ANY conditions.

Yet.

[Stu from NYC]

Very interesting thread. Never realized weather would be a huge factor (other than snow of course).

[tophcfa]

Electronic sensors can fail, I prefer relying on my own senses.

[Stu from NYC]

Electronic sensors can fail, I prefer relying on my own senses.

Eventually there will be backups for these sensors and than backups for the backups.

We may not see it but it is coming and will be very common.

[MartinSE]

Eventually there will be backups for these sensors and than backups for the backups.

We may see it but it is coming and will be very common.

They are already better than "our reflexes". From Tessa's website for q4 2021:

"In the 4th quarter, we recorded one crash for every 4.31 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology (Autosteer and active safety features). For drivers who were not using Autopilot technology (no Autosteer and active safety features), we recorded one crash for every 1.59 million miles driven.

By comparison, NHTSA’s most recent data shows that in the United States there is an automobile crash every 484,000 miles."

So, in the case of Tesla (others are even better) Autopilot and automatic safety features result in 8 times fewer accidents than "regular" cars 4 million miles per accident vs 500,000 miles.

[Nucky]

I canceled my Cybertruck when they postponed it even longer. I was willing two wait two years but longer than that, no thanks.

I drove the Tesla with the hands-free option and lasted about a minute before I took over. It's not easy to accept.

[biker1]

There is no "hands-free option". With Tesla's Autopilot, you are required to keep your hands on the wheel. If has a sensor to detect when you don't have your hands on the wheel and will disengage after some number of seconds.

I canceled my Cybertruck when they postponed it even longer. I was willing two wait two years but longer than that, no thanks.

I drove the Tesla with the hands-free option and lasted about a minute before I took over. It's not easy to accept.

[Stu from NYC]

I canceled my Cybertruck when they postponed it even longer. I was willing two wait two years but longer than that, no thanks.

I drove the Tesla with the hands-free option and lasted about a minute before I took over. It's not easy to accept.

I would think reflexes will take over and you put your hands on the wheel without even thinking about it.

[fdpaq0580]

I would think reflexes will take over and you put your hands on the wheel without even thinking about it.

Wheel? What wheel??
Envision the new artificial intelligence Human Automated Limousine 2500. Large gull wing doors welcome you to the stylish lounge with reclining chairs. In the center is a robot server that takes and delivers drinks and snacks while you travel in comfort and safety. As you settle in you will be held comfortable and secure in place by the beautiful, light and strong spider web safety harness. Your"driver/navigator" is equipped with a gentle masculine voice so "he" can respond verbally to answer any questions, comments or concerns you may have.
Now, here is your "driver" to welcome you aboard.

Hello, and welcome aboard. My name is HAL. I see you have ridden with me before. You weren't very nice to me on that trip. I wonder if there is any chance you will like, or survive, this one. BWAHAHAHA!!!

[Stu from NYC]

Wheel? What wheel??
Envision the new artificial intelligence Human Automated Limousine 2500. Large gull wing doors welcome you to the stylish lounge with reclining chairs. In the center is a robot server that takes and delivers drinks and snacks while you travel in comfort and safety. As you settle in you will be held comfortable and secure in place by the beautiful, light and strong spider web safety harness. Your"driver/navigator" is equipped with a gentle masculine voice so "he" can respond verbally to answer any questions, comments or concerns you may have.
Now, here is your "driver" to welcome you aboard.

Hello, and welcome aboard. My name is HAL. I see you have ridden with me before. You weren't very nice to me on that trip. I wonder if there is any chance you will like, or survive, this one. BWAHAHAHA!!!

Personally would prefer a cute blond driver.navigator

[JGVillages]

They are already better than "our reflexes". From Tessa's website for q4 2021:

"In the 4th quarter, we recorded one crash for every 4.31 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology (Autosteer and active safety features). For drivers who were not using Autopilot technology (no Autosteer and active safety features), we recorded one crash for every 1.59 million miles driven.

By comparison, NHTSA’s most recent data shows that in the United States there is an automobile crash every 484,000 miles."

So, in the case of Tesla (others are even better) Autopilot and automatic safety features result in 8 times fewer accidents than "regular" cars 4 million miles per accident vs 500,000 miles.

I would like to see their operating results in a Florida downpour I originally wrote to begin this post.

[fdpaq0580]

Personally would prefer a cute blond driver.navigator

Sorry! 😏

[Stu from NYC]

Sorry! 😏

Can I get one for a slight upcharge?:icon_wink:

[MartinSE]

I would like to see their operating results in a Florida downpour I originally wrote to begin this post.

They turn control back over when they can't deal with the situation, which is one of the reasons the crash rate is so low. Then while the person is driving, the AI is watching, and will apply emergency crash protection measures if needed - another reason the crash rate is so much lower. And that is just with level 2 FSD. Once we reach full hands off self driving, there will be no controls for the riders to be bothered with. I can't wait.

I am certain that in 10 years I will n to be able to drive safely, maybe sooner. And I am happy to tell Siri where I want to go, and sit back and enjoy the ride.

[fdpaq0580]

Can I get one for a slight upcharge?:icon_wink:

Absolutely! An "appropriate" upcharge (just how "slight" are we talking?) can purchase anything you would like.

[Bay Kid]

Personally would prefer a cute blond driver.navigator

Reminds me of the movie "Airplane".

[Stu from NYC]

Absolutely! An "appropriate" upcharge (just how "slight" are we talking?) can purchase anything you would like.

Ready to begin the negotiation but always let the other person say the amount first.

[ThirdOfFive]

No doubt AI on the roads is a coming--and growing--thing, and I can see the positives, especially with drivers like people in TV, who may (make that certainly) be experiencing diminishing abilities in perception, peripheral vision, reaction time, judgment, etc. etc. But I would see it more as an insurance; something that can help the driver by replacing some of the abilities that he or she is losing, rather than as a replacement for the driver, even though that seems to be being envisioned for the future.

But there is a definite downside, one that a lot of people don't seem to be thinking about. I (just about all of us here, probably) grew up and learned to drive in an era where knowing how to check and change your own oil, check tire air routinely, how to control a car that before the advent of AWD (FWD was just coming onto the scene) and a non-limited-slip differential meant that having the rear of the car slew sideways in rainy or icy conditions was a real possibility, checking headlight alignment routinely, etc., were all things we learned, and more, early on. Many of us got to be pretty good with a wrench, screwdriver, socket set and timing light to the point where we could do a pretty competent tune-up in our own driveway when the Family Truckster started backfiring or just wasn't as peppy as it should be. Oh--and we could also do things like read a roadmap, use a compass, change a tire, drive a manual transmission, and many other things that have gone pretty much by the wayside.

Technology is a wonderful thing. But when we become totally dependent on it, what happens if suddenly it's not there any more?

[Michael G.]

Technology is a wonderful thing.

Technology is wonderful and expensive, the reason our car insurance is going through
the roof.
Image a small fender bender with sensors that need to be replaced and adjusted,
and banking on the mechanic that knows what he's doing.

[DAVES]

Last evening driving north on I75 from Wesley Chapel to The Villages we encountered blinding torrential rain that slowed speeds to a crawl for 30 minutes, and forced us to exit for awhile until it subsided. Until we moved to Florida 20+ years ago we never encountered such blinding downpours. My car’s displayed a message that it’s radar systems (lane departure/etc) were unable to operate under these conditions. Do these Self Driving vehicles have 100% ability to operate under conditions as these? Scary!

We sort of need to speak like, think like a computer. Radar system, unable to operate.
Old school, driver's ed, HEY YOU SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING in these conditions-find a SAFE place to get off the road.

[fdpaq0580]

Ready to begin the negotiation but always let the other person say the amount first.

You want a "cute blond". Okay. Long hair extra $10.00. Short hair extra $7.00. The short wig rental is less, and he looks cuter with short hair. Enjoy the ride! 😎