[ExI] self-driving cars again

[BillK]

On Sun, Jul 15, 2012 at 5:23 AM, spike wrote:
> I would argue that it might eventually be possible to go really fast with
> auto^2, but the problem is vastly more difficult than it sounds.  There are
> a large number of effects that can be ignored completely at small speeds,
> but which increase dramatically with speed.
>
> Thune is offering a free class through Udacity on programming auto^2s.
> Check it out.
>

They had a robot car racing up Pikes Peak. Time trial, though. And so
far still slower than the best humans. But still quite a respectable
performance. Robot cars can do drifting now.


> I can easily imagine it taking a full decade of proofing before auto^2s are
> allowed to go faster than the current speed limits, and even then, I can
> imagine they wouldn't do it because of the challenges of interacting with
> carbon based drivers.
>
>

If robot drivers have to keep to speed limits, then public transport
becomes a bit more cost effective if you have a robot driver in the
bus. Perhaps even electric buses for real economy. You could have
fleets of buses continually driving around. Smaller mini buses on the
less busy routes. Perhaps you wouldn't even need bus stops. They could
pickup and set down anywhere on the route, selected by passengers.



BillK