Driving Toward a Future Without Humans Behind the Wheel

By | August 15, 2012

  • August 15, 2012 at 1:33 pm
    reality bites says:
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    How great would it be to attach a pod with your vacation gear, climb into your car with the family, reach the highway, plug in the code for your exit, have the car drive at 60MPH seperated by ten feet from the cars in front and in back, and arrive at your exit ramp all fresh and relaxed? Next, we’ll need onboard WC’s, refrigerators and microwaves. We already have the entertainment gear.

    Are we there yet?

    • August 15, 2012 at 2:24 pm
      Software Guy Jay says:
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      Why stop at 60 mph? If everything is completely automated to the point where computers can always prevent collision and control also aspects of driving, they can also maximize efficiencies and greatly improve how quickly we could get from place to place. Just think about it…no more slamming on brakes on the interstate for no apparent reason that slows everyone down, no more blue hairs going 25 in a 45, no more drunk drivers causing accidents, etc. There is no doubt an automated system would be far safer and more efficient. However, in that system, no human drivers could be allowed because of the unpredictability they we would introduce into the optimized system. As the article concluded with, the challenge is getting people to accept it. Driving vehicles and motorcycles can be a lot of fun, all fun is lost when the computer takes over.

  • August 15, 2012 at 1:45 pm
    michael says:
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    From personal experience I can state that there are already many “non humans” driving in Massachusetts.

    • August 15, 2012 at 5:57 pm
      Agent says:
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      You are a funny guy Michael. Might I add that 7 out of every 10 Chevy’s are now made in China according to their CEO. China can then make cars that will kill all of us by going out of control like their other products which harm us or by poisoning and using toxic materials.

  • August 15, 2012 at 2:13 pm
    nobody says:
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    It would be ideal for those who want to go out to a party / bar and not have to worry about a dui!

  • August 15, 2012 at 3:03 pm
    KK says:
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    How could we require illegal aliens to show proof of a vehicles drivers license if the no longer “drive” their vehicles. One side issue…….

  • August 15, 2012 at 5:11 pm
    D says:
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    Sounds like the end of texting and driving.

  • August 15, 2012 at 5:14 pm
    Brian says:
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    why not? we underwrite without underwriters now. So when the computer says speed up (rate increase) but clearly it’s the wrong thing to do but the decision is made….don’t worry, it’s predictive modeling.

    • September 5, 2012 at 10:19 am
      Agent says:
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      Do we really want to trust a computer with ours and our family’s safety on the steets and highways? I think of the movie Terminator when computers decided humans were no longer necessary and started eliminating the human race.

  • September 4, 2012 at 5:05 pm
    Metro Insurance says:
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    So if some teenage punk throws a cardboard box, or say, a cone, onto a busy highway, the auto-driving vehicles would not be able to distinguish between that, and, say, a living animal. So, does the car slow down a bit and try to avoid, run it over, or slam on the brakes and bring the entire highway (and inertia in the car) to a grinding halt?



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