Self-driving cars- the future or just another shiny toy?

[lukeADE335i]

Agreed - I think Ford has been the most honest about this. The others are tech companies trying to push up their stock price before disappearing into the night (Uber anyone - will they be around in 5 years time?).

Real world conditions are too chaotic for robots to handle at this stage. What happens in heavy rain, snow or dust storms where the sensor signals get too noisy for the computers to handle? Not only do the cars need to be autonomous themselves, but widespread sensors also need to be installed in the roads to mark lane and highway boundaries in all conditions. Add in changes to legislation required for some of the curlier ethical situations that arise, and widespread adoption is a long way off.

Just for laughs, let's see some autonomous vehicles attempting the infamous Elk test in Germany. Our state government here has certain highways for autonomous vehicle testing and they did a test with a stuffed kangaroo, even the relatively simple EBS systems on a lot of cars didn't work for that and the cars hit the roo :)

[nrubenstein]

Yes. But not as soon as some people would like to think.

[theevildoodlebob]

Google says there are 225 million drivers in the US. The only way for autonomous vehicles to be truly feasible is if everyone has one because you need everyone following the same rules and not thinking that the shoulder is an extra passing lane. Next time you see a car with a duct tape bumper, flashlight for headlight and tires that resemble racing slicks remember our tax dollars get to buy and maintain them a brand new fully updated autonomous vehicle.

[iansane]

I'm surprised that no one has written an encyclopedia of examples of why this is a bad turn in the road - PUN INTENDED! Let's come up with some scenarios:

1) If an owner loans their self-driving car to friends and there is an accident, who is liable? In other words, owner is not present - multiple passengers (who is the driver)?

2) If someone has a party and invites 50 people, how do self-driving cars park themselves at a residence that has four spaces? Will they respond to humans giving hand directions to park in the yard?

1. Completely situational. Hell, it may be a cyclists fault for the accident. It may be grandma stepping off the sidewalk. That's a pretty generic complaint with no way to answer. Even if the owner is there, in the car, he's not exactly responsible if the computer decides to take a hard right into a mailbox...

2. What's the matter with relinquishing control to a driver at some point? who says it has to be autonomous at all times? Hell, computers could stack car in super tight and then program an 'exodus' mode or something to move all the cars blocking you in if need be without having to run around the whole party looking for car owners. Sounds better to me.

I for one, am looking forward to self driving cars. It'd be so much nicer and less stressful to drive if you take out random human actions. People do some dumb shit on the roadway and if most every car it autonomous then it'd be much easier to 'drive around' them.

I would never own one, but I can't wait for their arrival.

[Stanley Rockafella]

This downward spiral we've allowed technological advancements to achieve will be the end of free will/independent thinking as we know it. I certainly hope I'm not alive to see the day when all cars are fully autonomous (and it is coming).

[packratbimmer]

I'm surprised that no one has written an encyclopedia of examples of why this is a bad turn in the road - PUN INTENDED! Let's come up with some scenarios:

1) If an owner loans their self-driving car to friends and there is an accident, who is liable? In other words, owner is not present - multiple passengers (who is the driver)?

2) If someone has a party and invites 50 people, how do self-driving cars park themselves at a residence that has four spaces? Will they respond to humans giving hand directions to park in the yard?

[dessutom]

Yeah, I am afraid the idiots chatting while driving or doing God knows what else, are everywhere nowadays. Unfortunately, if we go autonomous, we need to go autonomous all the way, otherwise, it will become a complete chaos. For me it will be ideal if the laws get tougher instead, and there are severe penalties for the drivers not following the rules. I wouldn't like to give up driving just because most people do not care about their life and the life of others. It's like pouring water into a bucket with a hole in, idiots will not get healed by introducing autonomous vehicles, it's all about competition and money, nobody gives a nickle about people's well-being or optimization of the roads.

[325e '87]

I’m fine with all vehicles being autonomous, except mine. Nearly every day I get the shit scared out of me by some idiot staring at their phone and crossing the double yellow headed straight for me.

[dessutom]

I agree, there are so many things that can be addressed before jumping to the next shiny toy that a non-automotive company started developing. But because it's "innovative" (which it isn't at all), everyone takes after like an obedient soldier without asking why. Thanks for the help, mate ;)

[packratbimmer]

Biggest waste of R&D money in automotive history. I have a suggestion: When all of the roads, bridges and other infrastructure are complete and maintained then put money into driver education.

If no one wants to drive, lets build trains!

[dessutom]

Folks,
What do you think about autonomous vehicles? Are they going to become the only allowed form of driving in a few years and who should decide that? It looks like all large automotive producers, BMW included, are competing to design the best technology "for the sake of the public good" but topics like affordability and security risks get neglected in the public conversation and the marketing articles.
I am doing a research on autonomous driving and its social impact and I'd love to learn what you think. If you've got a minute to answer 8 questions about your preferences as a BMW driver and what you think about the autonomous driving technology, I'd be grateful :)

https://forms.gle/unKmeCtfsWMwNnu37

Cheers!