Cars saving pedestrians' lives?

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If a vehicle with one of these systems may brake or swerve unexpectedly it might be necessary to only have vehicles which share the same system using the roads, so that if one is going to brake it can warn the others. Or there could be all sorts of ramifications following one of them changing its course, with vehicles with solely human drivers (or other automated systems) also involved. They mention the difficulty of establishing liability. Apart from liability for a collision not avoided, there could also liability for additional collisions.

The task of making a system that will work well enough in every respect, everywhere, any time, should not be underestimated. E.g. across the whole of Europe, town and country, large roads and small, winter and summer, day and night?

To the extent that the systems mainly warned about possible collisions, there might be an increase in the stress on drivers. A permanent, unceasing, back seat driver. But then airliner pilots are aided by warning buzzers and artificial voice warnings etc.

I am sceptical that the AI will be good enough and fast enough for some time to come. E.g. as I drive along I often have "VRU?s" in my "trajectory", in the ordinary course of steering amongst them. This problem could be eased if the situation on the roads was simplified - e.g. by more segregation of cars etc, from cyclists and pedestrians. And by more standardisation of rules, and reduction in the number of permitted options in various situations. Making the roads more like railways. I get the impression that it is not easy (or totally possible) to automate even just railway safety. But a lot could be done. But all roads? All of the time? There would be a significant loss of flexibility. And the irony of having reduced the need for the technology. But we might have taken a big step towards automating all driving, which would free up a lot of time both as regards transporting ourselves, and goods. Perhaps have "automation" and "non-automation" zones.

Any delay in achieving a working system may be in some ways be good because "Robot cars will eventually be much safer than those with human drivers," is very likely, given long enough. But if such systems are so capable we may well be into Asimov etc. territory, worrying about whether the robots will take over and seek to enslave or wipe us out. A high price, even for road safety.

Posted by: Ross44   Posted on: 01/14/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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