July 27th, 2015: Mcity, Michigan

[Happy Monkey]

One hurdle that autonomous cars will have is that even if they have a track record much better than human drivers, they will make mistakes that are not normal human mistakes. One robot car that does something that seems extremely stupid to a human is much more newsworthy than a hundred humans texting while driving.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I like that I can cut them off with impunity.
Because they know where I am and what I'm doing they will avoid me, whereas human drivers might not even know what planet they are on.

[Diaphone Jim]

Sorry, Bruce, I am still the fuck inna here.
When your selfie auto can take you to the doctor while you comfortably recline in the back seat, it might be nice. If it took you to the right doctor, of course, and parked in a legal spot.
On to the store, reconizing your voice command and going to the right one.
I think your best bet will be the "anywhere" one, which is where you will likely end up.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Don't apologize ya pussy.
I was responding to...

...threat of climate change should make them obsolete or actual climate change useless.

While I agree my buddy's niece living in Manhattan and owning two cars is excess, personal transportation is not a luxury in most of this country. Actually a Google car would get better mileage and have less environmental impact than I do.

Also as I enter my doddering years, It's comforting to see an alternative if Mothers Against Old Drivers makes them yank my license.
Now get off my lawn, ya whippersnapper.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by Diaphone Jim

If it took you to the right doctor, of course, ...

I ask computers where my doctor's office is already.

[Undertoad]

NYTimes: Among the States, Self-Driving Cars Have Ignited a Gold Rush

Includes Mtown... and kinda says this is a cash run.

Michigan, sensing a potential threat to its traditional leadership position in the auto industry, is taking no chances.

In July, officials unveiled a 32-acre testing ground in Ann Arbor specifically for researching self-driving cars — a mock suburb with asphalt and gravel roads lined by brick and glass building facades, where self-driving cars could be tested away from pedestrians. The state spent $6 million to build the site, with an additional $4 million coming from private companies.

“You can do the same type of test over and over again in identical circumstances,” said Jim Sayer, a researcher at the University of Michigan. “That is almost impossible on public roads.”

The project has already spurred investment. Fifteen companies, including Ford, General Motors, Honda and Toyota, have committed to spending $1 million each to conduct research there.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Google has been using modified cars from manufacturers to work the bugs out of their system for several years. In May they revealed their own car, designed from the ground up with everything needed, integrated into the build. It looks like it was intended for an urban environment.
It's also what many shameless people would call "cute".

[fargon]

It's adorable.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Adorable? ADORABLE! Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh! ......... mutter mutter grumble spit mutter mutter mutter grumble spit mutter ..............SLAM

[fargon]

Was it something I wrote?

[monster]

they look like British police cars. Not what they actually look like but just like something that would belong with a bobby in a cartoon world.

[Gravdigr]

[drift]

M-City......Am I the only one who is reminded of this when you read 'M-City'?

[/drift]