Comments on: Your earth capsule

By: chris sivori

chris sivori — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:31:43 +0000

Brian: I think AI will have to take into account destructive or unexpected behavior like vehicle failure, etc., so it will need to be robust enough to work around crazy human drivers. We would definitely see mixed systems. In one sci-fi book I read recently, all the taxis were driven remotely from call centers. Something like that could be an alternative to AI.

By: BrianR

BrianR — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 02:58:59 +0000

Regarding what Keith was talking about … if you watch time-lapse footage of heavy traffic, those transient moments of stoppage or near-stoppage migrate “upstream” even while all the traffic is moving “downstream”. This produces an accordion effect or a “wave”. Definitely not efficient…but this type of pattern is seen in nature, so there’s something fundamental about it.

You can see this phenomenon well in some of the footage in the film Koyaanisqatsi.

By: BrianR

BrianR — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 02:30:20 +0000

The problem, as always, is transitioning … how does a roadway work when you have a combination of the “new” automated cars and “old school” human-driven cars … this mix will have to be addressed. We can’t simply switch over all of the sudden.

Perhaps, it’ll start with special lanes (like HOV lanes) that are only for these new auto-automobiles? Or, maybe it’ll start with cabs, buses, or other non-personal vehicles.

By: chris sivori

chris sivori — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:24:00 +0000

I think we’ll see this in another 20 years. First the cars will “assist” drivers, alerting them to potential collisions or road hazards and braking if they get too close to a stationary object, etc. Then we will gradually cede more authority to our guidance systems until we’re just passively riding around. I think the role for government is in encouraging this technology (a la the DARPA challenges) and helping to build the infrastructure to allow this technology.