roger_millin wrote:
> Nick wrote
>
>> I'm skim-read that fairly one-sided article, and I'm not sure how taking
>> a taxi to work and another home again produces any less congestion that
>> me driving each way. Don't get me wrong here: I don't want to drive to
>> work. I like walking. But circumstances change.
>>
>
> The only way it could reduce emissions and congestion (assuming we still all
> want to do as many, if not more, journeys is for the driverless vehicles to
> always get a return load. If not they would end up being parked at the end of
> their one way journey and that could result in vehicles not being where they
> are required for much of the time.
>
> Don't worry though, the infrastructure costs are massive and we're not going
> to be in a financial position to afford that for more than another generation
> it seems. The vehicle side of things is close to complete though. We already
> have adaptive cruise control (already been on Jags for years), collision
> avoidance and automated cars (more recent developments) but the stringency
> that these systems would be subject to, to achieve certification and
> insurance clearance to be put into the mass market is daunting.
>
When I asked the technical Director of Mercedes Benz if he would be
having the first Drive by wire car, and he answered No. I pointed out
they had not got there heads around writing safety software for cars yet
had they. I reconned it would take them at least 10 yrs to start to
approach the level required, now that was in 1999 so one wonders if they
are starting to get there?
--
cheers Ian Mac
