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TESLA MOTORS HAS launched an autopilot mode for its electric cars.
While not fully autonomous, the software for both the Model S and Model X can automatically steer, change lanes and adjust its speed in response to traffic.
Drivers are still required to keep their hands on the steering wheel, and its CEO Elon Musk advised caution to drivers when using it, saying they’re liable if they get into a crash.
“It should not hit pedestrians, hopefully”, said Musk. “We want people to be quite careful [when using it]“.
The system uses a combination of features like a GPS, forward-facing camera, 360-degree ultrasonic sensors, forward radar, and mapping data to determine its position and help it navigate. As well as coping with traffic, it is able to scan for a space and park itself when it reaches its destination.
The plan is to gradually introduce features which remove the need for drivers to carry out certain actions, but Musk said that over time, it would gradually become a better driver than a person.
“Long term, it will be way better than a person. It never gets tired, it’s never had anything to drink, it’s never arguing with someone in the car. It’s not distracted.”
The update will arrive in the US first while other parts of the world will later receive it, pending approval from regulatory authorities.
Self-driving and autonomous cars are currently being developed by Google, BMW and Volvo, with testing still ongoing.
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I’d love one to drive home after the night shift, I could have a quick snooze and “hopefully” I won’t kill anyone.
Father Ted had one years ago!
*Tesla
People kill and injure thousands of other people each year on the worlds roads- computers are bound to do better-
always a good day when you dont hit someone.
Except for the Micra / Yaris driver who takes half an hour to go round a corner
Perhaps it might stop them savages from running down people at bus stops and then choping the injured with and ax!
Fingers crossed, be grand they said……
rise of the machines
this is awesome. My next car will be a Tesla.
Honestly I don’t see how one of these vehicles could be better than a competent driver. They’re susceptible to all kinds of software and hardware issues which could cause fatal accidents and they could be vulnerable to unsolicited electronic access. Not to mention the fact that cars will become much more expensive to manufacture and maintain as a result.
I think in theory it’s a good idea but in practice it will fail.
ya gotta start somewhere. otherwise progress will never be made!
“a motorised carriage fuelled by highly combustible liquid!? I think in theory it’s a good idea but in practice it will fail.” – Some dude, circa 1900
You can’t see how because you don’t know the first thing about machine learning. Google ‘s cars are already safer than competent drivers.
Why would cars that don’t need steering wheels and peddles be more expensive?
I’m pretty sure a full suite of computers, sensors and AI programming are more expensive than a steering wheel and a couple of peddles Jake.
Hólec, for every one design out there that succeeds there’s a ton more that fail. How are those flying car designs which were supposed to revolutionise travel coming along? Hell even jetpacks were toted as the personal transport revolution and promptly dropped.
Jason, open up to the spirit of endeavour.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.
“I’m pretty sure a full suite of computers, sensors and AI programming are more expensive than a steering wheel and a couple of peddles Jake”
So Tesla uses a system of radar and cameras. They’re not that expensive. They were included with all of their models and did not increase the price of the car. Tesla will be selling a $35K model starting next year and it too will include the radar and cameras.
Then there is the fact that Tesla’s are electric cars and cost fukc all to run compared to an ICE.
As for computers, cars already have on-board computers and have since the 1980s. The biggest problem facing manufacturers of self-driving cars is the software, not hardware.
‘They’re susceptible to all kinds of software and hardware issues which could cause fatal accidents and they could be vulnerable to unsolicited electronic access.’
You could say the same of human drivers.
Another one of these cars that Feds could switch off remotely and lock you in side or worse again crash it into something.
Michael Hastings, ‘Rolling Stone’ Contributor,died at the age of 33
Denmark is slowly retreating from some of its most ambitious, self-regarding climate initiatives. In an unforeseen attack of common sense, the government is readying to end its generous tax breaks for citizens who buy low-carbon vehicles because of the expense imposed on the public purse.
This will triple the retail price of electric cars like the popular Tesla (Model X pictured above) and remove their competitive price advantage against standard fossil fuel-powered models.
A draft budget proposed last week would extend an existing 180 per cent automobile tax to electric vehicles and place their pricing alongside all other standard competitors.
HT Simon Kent Breitbart
To be honest, I’m glad they’re pulling support for electrical vehicles. Evidence has shown that the production processes involved in making these electrical cars is even worse for the environment than standard hydrocarbon vehicles. That and they still contribute negatively to CO2 emissions unless the entire grid is powered by sustainable fuels (which almost nobody has achieved).
The only vehicles that stand a reasonable chance of having a positive effect are hydrogen cars and even then the production process for hydrogen fuel requires gas.
This is what the Chinese get from all this green nonsense, just one on the many many articles on this pollution available http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/28/article-1350811-0CF36063000005DC-625_634x286.jpg
I wish I was a kid again so that when I grew up I coud be like Elon Musk.
I’m honestly more concerned about it ‘self-parking’ itself into the side of the Ferrari or the Porsche that my neighbours in the garage drive than it hitting a person.
Try not parking it in your neighbours garage.
With increased interest in autonomous vehicles – everyone and their mother seems to be looking into autonomous driving – at what point do pedestrians themselves become responsible for crossing a road out side of pedestrian/zebra crossings. No matter how good software and sensor arrays get they can’t predict or be responsible for stupidity.
They can predict about as well as a human diver and react far far quicker
And they’re unlikely to down ten pints, smoke an ounce of weed before attempting to drive home.
did he not launch these on the Simpsons a few months back
have your say