Mcity
This is Mcity, a configurable "fake" city built by the Michigan DoT and University of Michigan as a testing ground for autonomous cars in urban environments. Piclick for article.
At first I was against self-driving cars, but the more I see of people trying to drive, the more I warm up to the idea. Since half of them seem to be more interested in playing with their phones than they are in guiding the 4,000-pound missile in which they are encased, I'd actually prefer it if they were just along for the ride in an AI-controlled robot. I imagine they feel exactly the same way about it, in fact. To some people, driving is just an inconvenience between them and where they're going. I'll stick with the old manually-controlled version, as I and many of my generation actually enjoy driving. I can easily see, however, why robotic cars will be very appealing to the generation just being born.
The article suggests that automated cars could account for as much as a quarter of worldwide automobile sales by 2035. Hell, by that point I'll be retired and might find the idea more appealing personally. I imagine it won't be too long after that -- maybe 2050 -- that automated cars and complex data-driven traffic networks become the standard. At that point, one will probably have to obtain a special license for driving "off the grid" within city limits -- or just hot-wire the car for manual control. Another of those staples of sci-fi prophecy come true.
At first I was against self-driving cars, but the more I see of people trying to drive, the more I warm up to the idea. Since half of them seem to be more interested in playing with their phones than they are in guiding the 4,000-pound missile in which they are encased, I'd actually prefer it if they were just along for the ride in an AI-controlled robot. I imagine they feel exactly the same way about it, in fact. To some people, driving is just an inconvenience between them and where they're going. I'll stick with the old manually-controlled version, as I and many of my generation actually enjoy driving. I can easily see, however, why robotic cars will be very appealing to the generation just being born.
The article suggests that automated cars could account for as much as a quarter of worldwide automobile sales by 2035. Hell, by that point I'll be retired and might find the idea more appealing personally. I imagine it won't be too long after that -- maybe 2050 -- that automated cars and complex data-driven traffic networks become the standard. At that point, one will probably have to obtain a special license for driving "off the grid" within city limits -- or just hot-wire the car for manual control. Another of those staples of sci-fi prophecy come true.
posted by Jar(egg)head at 13:00
1 Comments:
The potential for automated cars is astounding. Allowing handicapped people access and freedom of travel, and yes, I do believe you are right. Our grandchildren will see cars as nothing more than mobile I-Phones. Climb in, tell it your destination and sit back and crush the hell out of some candy, or fling birds, while your transport system gets you to your destination. The challenges are going to be pedestrians, bridges and tunnels, and big buildings. Not to mention good ol' Nature herself.
The real question is what will roads and traffic look like in this automated world? I think intersections will be replaced with traffic circles as it will allow the "cars" to keep moving without stopping. Will the vehicle of the future replace homes? With increasing technology and more people able to work anywhere there is a computer, combined with robotics, I can see many people living out of their car. Wake up, set a destination, work while on the way and have lunch at the beach, and dinner in the mountains, while watching whatever passes for entertainment in the future
Either that, or a big rock hits the earth and we all end up living in caves again, picking bugs out of each others hair. Either one works for me, I'll probably be dead anyway
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