View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Q65A
Age: 66 Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 1771 Location: Central NJ
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
JimmiB
Age: 81 Joined: 19 Apr 2011 Posts: 516 Location: Lebanon, PA
|
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 10:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm surprised to see that they have one in service. I'm a bit leery of self-driving vehicles, at least at this early stage.
I can't imagine what the cost will be for a bus with all that technology on board, plus they will always need an employee on board. I can imagine what an unattended bus would look like on a route through any big city ghetto. Then you have the added cost of adding sensors to traffic lights along the routes.
It's definitely an interesting experiment. Guess we'll see what happens when they go into production. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2462 Location: South Florida
|
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 10:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
As I've said in other threads...like it, or not, automated vehicles of all kinds are coming...
I like it, for the most part. I think one of the first places they should attempt such a bus, would be on MBTA's "Silver Line", which utilizes dual mode articulated diesel/electric trolley buses on a route which is half street-half private right-of-way including underground 'subway'....it would be the ideal place to test it... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Hart Bus
Age: 74 Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 1150
|
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I am not in favor of an unmanned bus in traffic (think Manhattan). Recently I went with the Metropolitan NY Bus Association on a trip to Connecticut. We did ride the Busway from Hartford to New Britain. I could see a trial on a closed track like that.
Bear in mind that this vehicle hasn't been tested in snow. Does it know how to "Rock the Boat" to get out of a snowy spot?
Reminds me of the automated NYC subway cars on the shuttle. The unions put up a protest and I think one of two of the cars had fires. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2462 Location: South Florida
|
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 10:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'll concede the point that operating on public roads in snow, would be a real challenge....the GPS is not that precise, on the multi camera's would have a tough time 'seeing' the lane markings.
So the first automated buses will probably be tested on some private road or guideway.
Railways are another matter....train automation has come a long way since the troubled Subway Shuttle test in the sixties...
And modern airliner's are capable of full autopilot, and autolanding capability, even in "zero-zero" visibility...
I even read where the London Heathrow airport has guided runways, taxiways, and ramps, that can take specially equipped British Airways aircraft from autoland right to their parking gate automatically in thick fog.... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
frankie
Age: 77 Joined: 01 Feb 2011 Posts: 748 Location: St. Peters, Mo.
|
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 11:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Sorry folks, but there's nothing safer that a pair of human hands on a steering wheel along with one trusty foot on the accelerator with nimble ability to shift itself to the brake pedal in a split second mental decision.
Frankie |
|
Back to top |
|
|
traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2462 Location: South Florida
|
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
Perhaps that's true currently...the human brain can take in the big picture and perceive potential hazards better than a computer...but...the computer can react faster, is eternally alert and never distracted, and as technology matures, will even have better perceptional skills than a human.... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2462 Location: South Florida
|
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
I believe the day will come when actually driving a car, will only be practiced in places as a recreational activity for enthusiasts... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Hart Bus
Age: 74 Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 1150
|
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 12:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
traildriver wrote: | Perhaps that's true currently...the human brain can take in the big picture and perceive potential hazards better than a computer...but...the computer can react faster, is eternally alert and never distracted, and as technology matures, will even have better perceptional skills than a human.... |
However I choose not to be the "crash test dummy" for this experiment |
|
Back to top |
|
|
TheDriver
Joined: 18 Dec 2015 Posts: 233 Location: America
|
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 10:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I don't think they have expended enough money on the idea to make it work right |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|