I’ve Been Thinking About Self Driving Cars and Tinfoil Hats

"Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast." (twostrokesmoke) 10/01/2014 at 15:28 • Filed to: None

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It seems that every other day we are beginning to see info on self-driving cars and how they will change the way we drive (or won't drive) in the future. All of us seem to be focused on what this means to us on the individual level, but I feel that one very important aspect has been overlooked in the discussions, at least the ones I've read the commercial market.

At this point I am aware that the cost of these units will be much, much more than an individual family would shell out for transportation, but what about commercial application? If you had one of these, or a fleet of these and were the head of a shipping company, I'm willing to bet that the cost savings to you would be substantial. Just think, once the item is unloaded from the dock, in some cases just locked directly to a trailer and shipped out, there wouldn't be a need to deal with an expensive human driver or his union. You wouldn't need to worry about a methed-out over worked blue collar guy having to be in charge of your products actually making it cross country over night when your new robo driver, who may be a bit slower in the long run, but more dependable will make it. Imagine you are a commander in the field and just need to ship a giant buttload of MREs or something nescacerry but not worthy of escort across questionable territory. Are you going to risk a driver or a robot? The answer seems pretty clear. Has anyone outside of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and Google looked at that?

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Now, let's say Google who seems to be spearheading all of this decided to turn it's attentions and vast resources toward the data of all of this. Is there any downside? I can't seem to come up with one. Hell, even UPS would only need the driver to go in and out of buildings for delivery. He/she could ride their trucks trolly style as they go about their pre-programmed route.

Since these cars are already being permitted on the roads by the CA DMV, the real question is no longer if, but when it will all happen. If nyone knows about that, please chime in.

Truck drivers of Oppositelock and Jalopnik, I don't think job security is what it used to be for your profession anymore. Godspeed.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 10/01/2014 at 15:29

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My favored mode of transport

Leadbull > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 10/01/2014 at 15:48

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Car sharing will probably take off once things go full robot.

The biggest downside — having to ride in some random stranger's car with them — would go away.

Taxi and bus services would also benefit (well, the cabbies and bus drivers wouldn't).

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I don't really envision every family whooshing around in Google cars. I think it's mostly going to be stuff like this , at least in the near future. Currently, the law (in states that have such laws — FL, NV, CA) is that someone must be behind the wheel, ready to take over. It might be that way for a while.