Jump to content
News
Reviews
Discussons
Activity
Create New...
Close
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    By William Maley •

    Waymo Scraps Plans For Human Intervention In Dangerous Situations

      Experiments showed people were too distracted to perform this task

    A number of companies that are working on autonomous driving systems are implementing features that require a driver to take control in hairy situations. But Waymo, the self-driving unit of Alphabet (Google's parent company) recently revealed they have stopped developing these features. The reason is simple, drivers lacked the awareness to take over driving.

    Waymo's CEO John Krafcik told reporters yesterday the decision to scrap this technology comes down to experiments done back in 2013 with Google employees that were filmed. The videos shown for the first time outside of Google showed people messing on their phones, putting on makeup, and even someone deciding to take a nap.

    “What we found was pretty scary. It’s hard to take over because they have lost contextual awareness,” said Krafcik.

    After the napping incident, plans for a driver to intervene were scrapped. Since then, Waymo has been working on technologies that didn't require human interaction. As such, Waymo's Chrysler Pacificas running in Phoenix, AZ only have two 'drive' buttons: one to start a drive and the other to tell the vehicle to pull over at its earliest convenience.

    Source: Reuters

    Go to articles

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    G. David Felt

    We'll this is a no brainer, how can one expect a person to take over control of an auto when they have not been paying attention the whole time to what is going on around them. Common sense or a lack of one at Waymo. Crazy Alphabet / Google Peeps.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    riviera74
    4 hours ago, dfelt said:

    We'll this is a no brainer, how can one expect a person to take over control of an auto when they have not been paying attention the whole time to what is going on around them. Common sense or a lack of one at Waymo. Crazy Alphabet / Google Peeps.

    They were not crazy.  They simply followed the data and observations.  Besides this happened four years ago.  I am sure that human intervention was never going to be implemented once self-driving took over.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    FAPTurbo
    On 10/31/2017 at 8:46 AM, dfelt said:

    We'll this is a no brainer, how can one expect a person to take over control of an auto when they have not been paying attention the whole time to what is going on around them. Common sense or a lack of one at Waymo. Crazy Alphabet / Google Peeps.

    this was common sense... Waymo's engineers very likely knew how it'd turn out this way, but then they wouldn't have the data needed to counter concern-trolling luddites who'd insist that the machines are out to kill us

    • Haha 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    balthazar

    ...lost contextual awareness.

    The (theoretical) transition between driver-controlled & true AD cars is going to be an entertaining/madly dangerous time once those who become 'programmed' to nap get back behind the wheel of a non-AD car. That's going to be, like, a 20 year window, too.

    Edited by balthazar
    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    oldshurst442
    2 hours ago, FAPTurbo said:

    this was common sense... Waymo's engineers very likely knew how it'd turn out this way, but then they wouldn't have the data needed to counter concern-trolling luddites who'd insist that the machines are out to kill us

    You sure you wanna open that Pandora's box, tho?

    7c28347d51cfa4eb61d160010b2e7d9f.jpg

    Greek mythology...

    yes...

    myths...

    Not to be taken so bloody literal...there is a message to be learned in these Greek myths...

    Read the lyrics in this song...

    released in 1969...

    all that in the song is happening now...the songwriter did not have to wait THAT long for all THAT to happen...just a mere 45 years...

     

    Just a thought...

    Edited by oldshurst442
    • Haha 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Robert Hall

    I wonder if the future is going to be a mix of Blade Runner (robots built to do the crappy work, no flying cars though), The Terminator (computers taking over and killing humans), and post-apocalyptic stuff like The Road....but seriously, being in software, I see how buggy and insecure software systems are on a daily basis, I certainly would't trust them to control the complete driving of cars, heavy trucks, etc any time soon...

    I recently read After On, a fun read about Silicon Valley startup companies, social networking, AI and terrorism... 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    G. David Felt
    14 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

    I wonder if the future is going to be a mix of Blade Runner (robots built to do the crappy work, no flying cars though), The Terminator (computers taking over and killing humans), and post-apocalyptic stuff like The Road....but seriously, being in software, I see how buggy and insecure software systems are on a daily basis, I certainly would't trust them to control the complete driving of cars, heavy trucks, etc any time soon...

    I recently read After On, a fun read about Silicon Valley startup companies, social networking, AI and terrorism... 

    Too late, Saudia Arabia already gave citizenship to the first AI human.

    http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-first-robot-citizen-sophia-animatronic-humanoid-2017-10

    Interesting reading and will scare many who fear AI.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Drew Dowdell
    19 hours ago, balthazar said:

     

     

    The (theoretical) transition between driver-controlled & true AD cars is going to be an entertaining/madly dangerous time once those who become 'programmed' to nap get back behind the wheel of a non-AD car. That's going to be, like, a 20 year window, too.

    It's scary when Albert goes from the Buick to the Honda and backs up without the rear-view camera and no parking sensors...... 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

    ×

  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • trinacriabob
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By trinacriabob · Posted

      Good morning ... ... good times ...
    • trinacriabob
      Airplanes

      By trinacriabob · Posted

      The Airbus vs. Boeing debate goes on and on.  Here, it's about the newer Airbus 350 versus the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.  Realistically, the A-350 could only compare to a B-787-10, the longest version of the Dreamliner.  That said, they often pit the A-350, which could carry a lot of passengers in 2 class configuration, against the B-777. I have flown on 3 Boeing 787s in the last 5 years.  Two were medium-haul and one was transatlantic - Rome to Philadelphia's AA hub. I just flew on the Airbus 350 for the first time about a week ago.  It was by Finnair, picked up at Helsinki after transferring there for the flight to the U.S. I was truly expecting more from the Airbus 350.  It does what it's supposed to do.  It seems to be getting more sales than the Boeing. I prefer the Boeing 787 Dreamliner by a slight margin.  The most important thing is that the humidification felt better in the 787.  They say the A-350 is quieter, but it's negligible to the untrained ear.  Even though some complain that the crew can lock and control the window dimming on the 787, they did not do this on my flights and I loved it, complete with the big taller windows.   The A-350 metrics seem to benefit the operator.  The A-350 can seat more people, it burns slightly less fuel, and can fly slightly more nautical miles, but it seemed crammed and I didn't like the feel of the cabin, right down to shades on the windows.  In waiting on the delayed plane A-350 for an hour, the heat gain against my window - with the shade down - was too much.  I got up and walked around the rear galley where the air conditioning better cooled me down.  Both have 3-3-3 seating and they say that the A-350 cabin width puts a few more inches on the seat.  That doesn't come into play for me.  Not only that, Airbus puts in more thin Recaro-looking seats that seem hard whereas the Boeing puts in seats with a more conventional sculpted silhouette.  It's subjective.  I didn't find the A350 all that much quieter and like the "open sky" architecture of the 787 cabin, the seats, the dimming, and the humidification.   The A-350 has a straighter looking wing angle with curled wingtips that look cool when they are maneuvering.  However, the fully upward curved wing of the B-787 is stunning.  The B-787 is a slightly better looking plane. I wish more carriers of 9 abreast aircraft would follow Japan Air Lines' move (in their B-787) to 2-4-2, which would make the Dreamliner more of a dream. If 9 across (3-3-3), I would go with the Boeing 787.  However, I could skip this debate and step down in size to Airbus's latest A330-900 neo.  It's got some up the upgrades, and keeps skinny harder seats; however, the 2-4-2 seating is the way to go for more comfort.
    • trinacriabob
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By trinacriabob · Posted

      I don't know what to say ... typical Midwest political demographics where big cities with large minority populations, state capitals, and college towns are blue while everywhere else is red. After the 2016 election, I was driving across I-70 in the Buckeye state.  To my right was a Sonic or Spark with the bumper sticker "Get Lost, Hillary."  As I got alongside it, it was a smaller older white woman whose hair had a blue hue befitting a "bluehair," it also looked like she had stuck her finger in a light socket, and she had a slight underbite like a bulldog.  The funny thing is that this is the demographic of the very people Agent Orange hates because they 'make him look cheap.' I really wanted to get her attention and give her the finger Viggo Mortensen style as in "Green Book."  I might have occasionally done that in the past - in my SoCal days, which wasn't too smart - but I don't really do that anymore.
    • G. David Felt
      Permanent Car Spotters

      By G. David Felt · Posted

      Ran some errands this morning and saw a mint condition CT6 Blackwing in glossy black burbling along the road, sounded really good compared to the crack high pitch noise of the mustangs and other luxury brands. Cadillac nailed the defined muscle sound of the exhaust. Noticeable, but not annoying.
    • Robert Hall
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By Robert Hall · Posted

      I think it's mostly automated, their BS algorithms are doing keyword searches... people also can report things, I do all the time, don't know if they result in time outs. 

  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

I've whitelisted
Continue without support

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search