Ask God a question:

There are already cars driving themselves around our roads, mixing with trucks, old ladies, dogs etc. They only kill people occasionally.

freediver wrote on Feb 15^th, 2018 at 8:58pm:



I think its impossible for a computer to drive as well as a human in heavy traffic.
A computer doesn't have consciousness -
it can't account for some mad driver who does the unexpected manoeuvre  near you.

freediver wrote on Feb 15^th, 2018 at 9:51pm:



Really?

Can they understand that a school bus has just stopped 100 meters
ahead & a kid might run out across the road from in front of the bus into the path of your car?

freediver wrote on Feb 15^th, 2018 at 9:55pm:



No - I just gave you one small example of where consciousness is required.

Setanta wrote on Feb 15^th, 2018 at 10:32pm:



True - but when the plane lands the captain has the controls.

Setanta wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 12:08am:



I believe the large commercial jets can land by computer only but
the rules don't allow it.

Even the current generation of self-driving cars have already proved themselves safer than human drivers.

After a fatal crash involving a Tesla on autopilot in the US, their National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated the autopilot system used in the cars, and all the naysayers lined up to demand it be withdrawn.

Then the findings were released - that actually the crash rate of Tesla cars had dropped by 40% in cars where autopilot was installed. Given that the speed-hating nanny-statists responsible for road safety here in Oz are happy to crow about even a few % reduction in the road toll (and lie about how it's due to speed cameras), 40% is huge.

When you talk such massive reductions in fatalities, self-driving cars (and especially self-driving trucks) are a no-brainer.

https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/19/nhtsas-full-final-investigation-into-teslas-au
topilot-shows-40-crash-rate-reduction/

Bobby. wrote on Feb 15^th, 2018 at 10:03pm:


Are you saying the driverless cars we already have are actually alive?

Or that they crash every time something unexpected happens but no-one has noticed?

freediver wrote on Feb 15^th, 2018 at 9:55pm:


40,000 on average per year in the US killed on the roads.

I hope they can tell the difference between the stop and the hand wave the lollypop guy gives at the road works, the sensors are going to have to be good to navigate the five way Britannia roundabout in Adelaide, i would be closing my eyes and hoping for the best, there might be a few tail end collisions with dogs cats and roos playing chicken, i can see the hoons playing a few tricks with these machines, still i have had enough of driving and will take my chances, sit back have a beer and keep the insurance up to date.

Bobby. wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 1:50pm:


Driving is like playing chess. Being aware of the board, foreseeing moves, looking behind the pawn, watching for checkmates.

Bobby. wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 7:59pm:


You are about 20 years behind Bobby. Computers are driving cars on our roads, doing the exact things that you claim require consciousness. I still have no idea why anyone would think it requires consciousness to avoid colliding with something.

Gordon wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 8:04pm:


A lot of people don't, that's for sure. Some kid got himself t-boned not far from here skateboarding on a road through a round about just down the hill from LBH at Lismore Square. He was on the road, nothing hidden.

edit: Thinking about it, it may have been an herself. Anyway a teenager near the end of the Chrissy hols.

Bobby. wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 8:12pm:


How about busses have electronics too or at least something the car can read? A bus is stopped, it signals that to nearby vehicles, vehicles passing it automatically slow, unlike people.

Setanta wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 8:15pm:


No electonics  required.  If A computer can pick a terrorists face in a crowd it can pick up a school bus and put itself into a different driving mode.

Gordon wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 8:19pm:


Pretty much.

Setanta wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 8:21pm:

The kids could have electronic devices fitted that could communicate with the autonomous vehicle in case they run in front of the bus.

Setanta wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 8:30pm:



Ask the ICAO.

https://www.icao.int/about-icao/Pages/default.aspx

They set the standards.
They have all systems monitored by humans.

Bobby. wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 8:39pm:


That is not my point Bobby, if humans are better, why are they not doing the job? Oversight is one thing, another redundancy for the sake of safety or extreme circumstances. Computers do the job and do it better.

In low vis all passenger airliners will be landed by computer. All airliners must be landed by autopilot at regular intervals to make sure the systems are working. The human pilot can choose to land it or not but it's not needed but they must keep their skills up just in case, oversight.

The average reaction braking time is 2.3 seconds, i think survival instinct takes over in many instances and the brakes are hit before you even know you are doing it.

Bobby. wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 8:12pm:


It is a great example, of the state of technology 20 years ago. How do you imagine the modern computer controlled cars navigate the streets? magic?

Bobby. wrote on Feb 16^th, 2018 at 8:53pm:


That is because humans do not trust machines and they can make mistakes but they make far fewer mistakes than humans. It's just the last line in redundancy, it's not a bad thing but it is what it is. You are far safer in a computer's hands in an aircraft 99.9% of the time.

The problem with driverless cars is, sooner or later it is going to have to make an ethical decision.

Say you are the sole occupant in a driverless car and for what ever reason you are about to be in an accident that will be fatal. The only option the car has to avoid this fatal accident is to swerve onto the footpath were a family (mum, dad, two kids) are walking.

The computer in the car will need to make a decision. Does it swerve, saving it's sole occupant but killing 4 people or does it play the numbers game and just kill you?

If driverless cars become a reality then you will soon be able to buy a car that is programed, in some instances, to kill you.

Raven is not sure humans will accept that. We can accept a human driver swerving to save his life. It's human nature. We might not agree with, we might condemn the driver but deep down we accept it. Not so with a computer program.