It took seven miles to pull over a Tesla with a seemingly asleep driver(arstechnica.com)
arstechnica.com
It took seven miles to pull over a Tesla with a seemingly asleep driver
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/11/cops-pull-over-tesla-cruising-on-a-freeway-with-apparently-asleep-driver/
135 comments
And that never happened before?
"The driver was Alexander Samek, who serves on the Los Altos Planning Commission."
I wonder, does having a car with autopilot make someone more likely to drive drunk, or is it simply averting an asleep-at-the-wheel car crash for the drunk drivers fortunate enough to have this feature?
Probably both.
Maybe he wedged an orange in the steering wheel.
https://youtu.be/TYZrehVQouc
https://youtu.be/TYZrehVQouc
i still can't believe tesla has gotten away with putting a feature called auto-pilot into a car which does no such thing. how does auto-pilot mean driver must be alert at all times with hands physically at the wheel? how is the marketing and naming of that feature legal and passing regulation?
and i don't like the overly positive implication that auto-pilot saved this person's life. no, in fact, its existence, as described in a separate incident in the exact same article, likely encouraged the drunk driving in the first place. a car just free running on the road with no one behind the wheel is not a good thing. seven miles is a long time to stop the car and endangered many other people's lives just as an active drunk driver would. auto-pilot did not improve the situation as the article implies.
and i don't like the overly positive implication that auto-pilot saved this person's life. no, in fact, its existence, as described in a separate incident in the exact same article, likely encouraged the drunk driving in the first place. a car just free running on the road with no one behind the wheel is not a good thing. seven miles is a long time to stop the car and endangered many other people's lives just as an active drunk driver would. auto-pilot did not improve the situation as the article implies.
Drunk driving is fully the responsibility of the drunk driver. If you ascribe blame to autopilot, then so can the driver.
The issue isn't autopilot at all—it's all still the driver. In this case the autopilot prevented his death, even if you may root for it.
The issue isn't autopilot at all—it's all still the driver. In this case the autopilot prevented his death, even if you may root for it.
I get where you're coming from, but I wouldn't say it's not autopilot's fault "at all". The blame on autopilot is ascribed to the fact that it's called autopilot, not that it's lacking in functionality. I'm sure at some point a thought like "I'm a little buzzed but this car can drive itself with autopilot so it's no big deal" went through the driver's head, and perhaps that same thought wouldn't have occurred if it had been named "advanced cruise control".
When people hear autopilot, they think of planes where autopilot means you can literally not be in the cockpit for 10 minutes and still be fine. That leads to Tesla drivers making unwise decisions - like drunk driving - with the assumption that their car can handle itself on its own.
When people hear autopilot, they think of planes where autopilot means you can literally not be in the cockpit for 10 minutes and still be fine. That leads to Tesla drivers making unwise decisions - like drunk driving - with the assumption that their car can handle itself on its own.
> When people hear autopilot, they think...
Sounds like a problem with people.
Sounds like a problem with people.
I think the blame should go to the party who markets the technology as fully self driving for selling the tech as such, and to drivers that use it despite knowing the law considers them fully responsible for the outcome of their driving.
People will always fall for false claims which is why misleading advertising is illegal. How Tesla still manages to do it without being able to provide evidence to support the claims is beyond me. Probably some legal loophole.
P.S. Although the wording was slightly changed, Tesla still insists their cars have fully self driving capabilities on www.tesla.com/autopilot. A claim that’s obviously not supported as of yet.
People will always fall for false claims which is why misleading advertising is illegal. How Tesla still manages to do it without being able to provide evidence to support the claims is beyond me. Probably some legal loophole.
P.S. Although the wording was slightly changed, Tesla still insists their cars have fully self driving capabilities on www.tesla.com/autopilot. A claim that’s obviously not supported as of yet.
> Tesla still insists their cars have fully self driving capabilities on www.tesla.com/autopilot
No they don't. They say they have the hardware for it, but the functionality will only become available once it passes software validation and regulatory approval.
No they don't. They say they have the hardware for it, but the functionality will only become available once it passes software validation and regulatory approval.
While accurate, I don't think it's surprising (and therefore Tesla know) that people would assume
>Full Self-Driving Hardware on All Cars
As a massive headline and
> All Tesla vehicles produced in our factory, including Model 3, have the hardware needed for full self-driving capability at a safety level substantially greater than that of a human driver.
As the rest of what I see on one screen- means that it's self driving and safer than a human.
More from the page
> Full Self-Driving Capability
And only towards the end does it say
> Please note that Self-Driving functionality is dependent upon extensive software validation and regulatory approval, which may vary widely by jurisdiction. It is not possible to know exactly when each element of the functionality described above will be available
Which even then isn't clear if it's self driving or not yet.
Frankly, if you sell me something you say is capable of full self driving, I expect it to be able to do that. I'm sure they're technically correct but I think they're wildly misleading.
>Full Self-Driving Hardware on All Cars
As a massive headline and
> All Tesla vehicles produced in our factory, including Model 3, have the hardware needed for full self-driving capability at a safety level substantially greater than that of a human driver.
As the rest of what I see on one screen- means that it's self driving and safer than a human.
More from the page
> Full Self-Driving Capability
And only towards the end does it say
> Please note that Self-Driving functionality is dependent upon extensive software validation and regulatory approval, which may vary widely by jurisdiction. It is not possible to know exactly when each element of the functionality described above will be available
Which even then isn't clear if it's self driving or not yet.
Frankly, if you sell me something you say is capable of full self driving, I expect it to be able to do that. I'm sure they're technically correct but I think they're wildly misleading.
It's also questionable whether even the "full self driving hardware" claim is true, since "full self-driving capability at a safety level substantially greater than that of a human driver" is not yet a thing which exists, and the closest vehicles we have to full self-driving capability rely on vastly superior hardware to that fitted to the Tesla.
You've misquoted them the same way as the other guy. They aren't saying the car has that capability.
> if you sell me something you say is capable of full self driving
As I pointed out, they haven't said that. They've said it's got the hardware needed for it.
Compare:
This iPhone is capable of 16-way FaceTime calls.
…to:
This iPhone has the hardware necessary for 16-way FaceTime calls.
When iOS 12 was released, one was true but the other wasn't. It wasn't until Apple released iOS 12.1 that iPhones were capable of making 16-way FaceTime calls.
Hardware support is necessary but not sufficient. What Tesla are saying on that page is that when you buy the car, you've got all the hardware needed, but the software that is needed is yet to come, at an uncertain future date.
Right now, Tesla are saying that you've got all the hardware, you just need the software, and the software isn't ready yet. This isn't at all the same thing as saying that the car has this capability right now. Those are two quite distinct claims and I think that page is clear on saying the former not the latter.
If you're saying that Tesla claiming hardware support is tantamount to claiming full functionality, then how do you suggest they describe the situation? Do you think they should be banned from mentioning the hardware support? Does this apply to other manufacturers like Apple as well?
> if you sell me something you say is capable of full self driving
As I pointed out, they haven't said that. They've said it's got the hardware needed for it.
Compare:
This iPhone is capable of 16-way FaceTime calls.
…to:
This iPhone has the hardware necessary for 16-way FaceTime calls.
When iOS 12 was released, one was true but the other wasn't. It wasn't until Apple released iOS 12.1 that iPhones were capable of making 16-way FaceTime calls.
Hardware support is necessary but not sufficient. What Tesla are saying on that page is that when you buy the car, you've got all the hardware needed, but the software that is needed is yet to come, at an uncertain future date.
Right now, Tesla are saying that you've got all the hardware, you just need the software, and the software isn't ready yet. This isn't at all the same thing as saying that the car has this capability right now. Those are two quite distinct claims and I think that page is clear on saying the former not the latter.
If you're saying that Tesla claiming hardware support is tantamount to claiming full functionality, then how do you suggest they describe the situation? Do you think they should be banned from mentioning the hardware support? Does this apply to other manufacturers like Apple as well?
>If you're saying that Tesla claiming hardware support is tantamount to claiming full functionality, then how do you suggest they describe the situation?
Less dishonestly.
Your entire argument boils down to "people should be expected to parse Tesla's (intentionally, I might add) obfuscated language". There's a very good reason why the language used in marketing is regulated in just about every country on the planet.
Less dishonestly.
Your entire argument boils down to "people should be expected to parse Tesla's (intentionally, I might add) obfuscated language". There's a very good reason why the language used in marketing is regulated in just about every country on the planet.
> Your entire argument boils down to "people should be expected to parse Tesla's (intentionally, I might add) obfuscated language".
No, my argument is as follows:
1. It is reasonable for Tesla to distinguish between having hardware capability and actual functionality.
2. It's necessary for them to make this distinction in order to offer the hardware upgrades for pre-sale.
3. Other vendors do this without people complaining.
Do you disagree with any of those?
No, my argument is as follows:
1. It is reasonable for Tesla to distinguish between having hardware capability and actual functionality.
2. It's necessary for them to make this distinction in order to offer the hardware upgrades for pre-sale.
3. Other vendors do this without people complaining.
Do you disagree with any of those?
I can't tell if you're being intentionally obtuse or if you really don't understand that the way you say something is different from what you're saying.
It's completely irrelevant whether or not it's reasonable for Tesla to distinguish between having hardware capability and actual functionality, the way they are describing it is demonstrably and indisputably leading consumers to believe their cars are actively capable of full self-driving, which is absolutely not the case.
Tesla are misleading consumers, their intention is thoroughly irrelevant.
It's completely irrelevant whether or not it's reasonable for Tesla to distinguish between having hardware capability and actual functionality, the way they are describing it is demonstrably and indisputably leading consumers to believe their cars are actively capable of full self-driving, which is absolutely not the case.
Tesla are misleading consumers, their intention is thoroughly irrelevant.
> I can't tell if you're being intentionally obtuse or if you really don't understand that the way you say something is different from what you're saying.
I understand that, but I get the impression that no way of saying it will satisfy you. This is why I asked how you think they should describe it. This is why I asked if you actually disagree with any of those points. Do you?
> the way they are describing it is demonstrably and indisputably leading consumers to believe their cars are actively capable of full self-driving
Is it? I mean, there's obviously going to be idiot outliers for any product. A drunk person using awful judgement does not qualify as "demonstrably and indisputably" in my view. Has anybody actually demonstrated this is actually misleading to the average person?
I understand that, but I get the impression that no way of saying it will satisfy you. This is why I asked how you think they should describe it. This is why I asked if you actually disagree with any of those points. Do you?
> the way they are describing it is demonstrably and indisputably leading consumers to believe their cars are actively capable of full self-driving
Is it? I mean, there's obviously going to be idiot outliers for any product. A drunk person using awful judgement does not qualify as "demonstrably and indisputably" in my view. Has anybody actually demonstrated this is actually misleading to the average person?
>Is it? I mean, there's obviously going to be idiot outliers for any product.
Well, the people at Tesla who assumed a Vulcan like understanding of their marketing language from buyers are either malicious marketeers or idiots themselves.
Well, the people at Tesla who assumed a Vulcan like understanding of their marketing language from buyers are either malicious marketeers or idiots themselves.
>1. It is reasonable for Tesla to distinguish between having hardware capability and actual functionality.
No, it's not. Not in any way that can be misconstrued, and not in marketing copy for existing products, for which the "hardware capability" alone means shit.
In fact, the very distinction is BS. Either the car can autopilot or not. Whether the hardware can but needs the software which is not available is of interest to noone.
It might even be totally wrong as a claim too (e.g. if the software is eventually finalized they might very well discover it actually needs some more sensors to be safe, which means the hardware wasn't ready actually).
>It's necessary for them to make this distinction in order to offer the hardware upgrades for pre-sale.
They shouldn't be preseling updates of hardware that supports something for which they don't have the software yet.
>3. Other vendors do this without people complaining.
No excuse, if they do those other vendors are bad actors too.
No, it's not. Not in any way that can be misconstrued, and not in marketing copy for existing products, for which the "hardware capability" alone means shit.
In fact, the very distinction is BS. Either the car can autopilot or not. Whether the hardware can but needs the software which is not available is of interest to noone.
It might even be totally wrong as a claim too (e.g. if the software is eventually finalized they might very well discover it actually needs some more sensors to be safe, which means the hardware wasn't ready actually).
>It's necessary for them to make this distinction in order to offer the hardware upgrades for pre-sale.
They shouldn't be preseling updates of hardware that supports something for which they don't have the software yet.
>3. Other vendors do this without people complaining.
No excuse, if they do those other vendors are bad actors too.
Sure, it would have been misleading and dishonest for Apple to have marketed "hardware capable of 16 way calls" as a feature when the software for 16 way calls didn't exist and wasn't even close to being ready, particularly if it was far from certain that 16 way calls were a technically achievable feat and many experts in the field doubted the adequacy of the iPhone's hardware for that purpose.
Should they have been able to make the same claim about the iPhone 4? I mean, it's got the theoretically necessary camera and audio hardware, if you overlook minor details like Apple not actually introducing 16 way calls until that device was basically obsolete, and then not in a software update that would actually run on it.
Should they have been able to make the same claim about the iPhone 4? I mean, it's got the theoretically necessary camera and audio hardware, if you overlook minor details like Apple not actually introducing 16 way calls until that device was basically obsolete, and then not in a software update that would actually run on it.
Well, they haven't marketed it as such. And even if they did, it wouldn't kill anyone to take it for granted.
You are comparing iPhone's marketing material to a life and death aspect of a self driving car and placing them at the same level. I think that says clearly how bad the Tesla material is. The standard for both shouldn't even me remotely comparable.
Even then it's fairly clear doing the 16 way call wasn't a fundamental challenge for Apple and they did it fairly short order. Things are not so cut and dry with self driving technology.
It is quite clear from the marketing material that Tesla knows that average people don't understand plane Autopilot. And the name gives people illusion of more capability than for real and at the same time allows them to point that plane autopilot is fairly limited so they are not misleading people.
Their original language was way worse and it is clear from the changes they are trying to make sure they can point out to the fine print to say we didn't really say it can self drive.
Please note that Self-Driving functionality is dependent upon extensive software validation and regulatory approval, which may vary widely by jurisdiction. It is not possible to know exactly when each element of the functionality described above will be available, as this is highly dependent on local regulatory approval.
This is clearly meant to suggest to the unsuspecting customer that they have the whole thing ready and just waiting for pesky regulatory approvals. This is beyond shameful specially when they are doing this literally for years.
Even then it's fairly clear doing the 16 way call wasn't a fundamental challenge for Apple and they did it fairly short order. Things are not so cut and dry with self driving technology.
It is quite clear from the marketing material that Tesla knows that average people don't understand plane Autopilot. And the name gives people illusion of more capability than for real and at the same time allows them to point that plane autopilot is fairly limited so they are not misleading people.
Their original language was way worse and it is clear from the changes they are trying to make sure they can point out to the fine print to say we didn't really say it can self drive.
Please note that Self-Driving functionality is dependent upon extensive software validation and regulatory approval, which may vary widely by jurisdiction. It is not possible to know exactly when each element of the functionality described above will be available, as this is highly dependent on local regulatory approval.
This is clearly meant to suggest to the unsuspecting customer that they have the whole thing ready and just waiting for pesky regulatory approvals. This is beyond shameful specially when they are doing this literally for years.
It's a shame people are downvoting this because it's a reasonable response.
However, I think you're making two mistakes. One, I think to most people they absolutely are making that claim. Two, as I say they may technically be the accurate claims but they're extremely misleading and designed to hide the fact that the cars do not have this ability right now in a usable form.
> They aren't saying the car has that capability.
They have this as a headline: "Full Self-Driving Capability". Under it it says "Build upon Enhanced Autopilot and order Full Self-Driving Capability on your Tesla." I am not cutting sentences in half or anything, they very explicitly say that I can order full self-driving capability on my tesla.
So I can order full self driving capability on a Tesla. They say I can buy a car with that capability. They say parts of it may not be available, depending where I am (though I'm on a country specific page where they know full well that it is not usable).
One of the first things on the page is a video showing self driving!
I feel if I list a series of functionalities on a product I'm selling then say "We can't say exactly when each of these will be available in your area" while I know that definitely none of them are available then I am being either misleading or completely dishonest.
> When iOS 12 was released, one was true but the other wasn't. It wasn't until Apple released iOS 12.1 that iPhones were capable of making 16-way FaceTime calls.
And I'd say they were dishonest if they had headlines of "16 way FaceTime call capability" under which it says "Order the 16 way capable version today!"
> If you're saying that Tesla claiming hardware support is tantamount to claiming full functionality, then how do you suggest they describe the situation?
Quite simple - make it extremely obvious that it's not yet available. Say "Future self driving capabilities". Make it clear that it may never be usable where you live. Maybe have a clear note on the video that the car you buy won't do that when you get it.
As a side, I do not understand their claim either - they say all cars produced have the necessary hardware but then later say it's my choice to order as an extra because the basic version doesn't have it.
However, I think you're making two mistakes. One, I think to most people they absolutely are making that claim. Two, as I say they may technically be the accurate claims but they're extremely misleading and designed to hide the fact that the cars do not have this ability right now in a usable form.
> They aren't saying the car has that capability.
They have this as a headline: "Full Self-Driving Capability". Under it it says "Build upon Enhanced Autopilot and order Full Self-Driving Capability on your Tesla." I am not cutting sentences in half or anything, they very explicitly say that I can order full self-driving capability on my tesla.
So I can order full self driving capability on a Tesla. They say I can buy a car with that capability. They say parts of it may not be available, depending where I am (though I'm on a country specific page where they know full well that it is not usable).
One of the first things on the page is a video showing self driving!
I feel if I list a series of functionalities on a product I'm selling then say "We can't say exactly when each of these will be available in your area" while I know that definitely none of them are available then I am being either misleading or completely dishonest.
> When iOS 12 was released, one was true but the other wasn't. It wasn't until Apple released iOS 12.1 that iPhones were capable of making 16-way FaceTime calls.
And I'd say they were dishonest if they had headlines of "16 way FaceTime call capability" under which it says "Order the 16 way capable version today!"
> If you're saying that Tesla claiming hardware support is tantamount to claiming full functionality, then how do you suggest they describe the situation?
Quite simple - make it extremely obvious that it's not yet available. Say "Future self driving capabilities". Make it clear that it may never be usable where you live. Maybe have a clear note on the video that the car you buy won't do that when you get it.
As a side, I do not understand their claim either - they say all cars produced have the necessary hardware but then later say it's my choice to order as an extra because the basic version doesn't have it.
I HAVE PROOF THAT TESLA HW IS NOT CAPABLE OF FSD. [1]
Tesla says “Full Self-Driving Hardware on All Cars”. The implication is clearly that the cars are perfectly capable of fully self driving. Hence the misleading advertisement.
The claim is not substantiated in any way. Simply the assumption that technically a few cameras, sensors, and a not very powerful processing unit are enough to enable FSD. To this point there is no actual evidence that the statement is true.
My phone has all the hardware needed to crack any non quantum encryption. Also to solve the teleportation problem, world hunger, and is able to cut any cake in perfectly equal slices. It just needs the right software and perhaps infinite retries.
All Tesla has to do is provide in eqully large typeface and placement evidence that the HW indeed can do it but not at this time. And in case you’re wondering yes, all manufacturers should advertise clearly what the product can and cannot do, and when. Whataboutism is not an argument that the problem isn’t there, just that we should ignore it because that other guy does it.
[1] Proof only available under certain conditions and subject to local regulatory approval.
Tesla says “Full Self-Driving Hardware on All Cars”. The implication is clearly that the cars are perfectly capable of fully self driving. Hence the misleading advertisement.
The claim is not substantiated in any way. Simply the assumption that technically a few cameras, sensors, and a not very powerful processing unit are enough to enable FSD. To this point there is no actual evidence that the statement is true.
My phone has all the hardware needed to crack any non quantum encryption. Also to solve the teleportation problem, world hunger, and is able to cut any cake in perfectly equal slices. It just needs the right software and perhaps infinite retries.
All Tesla has to do is provide in eqully large typeface and placement evidence that the HW indeed can do it but not at this time. And in case you’re wondering yes, all manufacturers should advertise clearly what the product can and cannot do, and when. Whataboutism is not an argument that the problem isn’t there, just that we should ignore it because that other guy does it.
[1] Proof only available under certain conditions and subject to local regulatory approval.
> Tesla says “Full Self-Driving Hardware on All Cars”. The implication is clearly that the cars are perfectly capable of fully self driving.
What they have said explicitly is that they cars are not capable of fully self driving until the software and regulatory approvals are ready. Explicit trumps whatever you think is implicit.
A Tesla car is not just hardware. It's software as well. You are equating claims that are explicitly about the hardware as if they are about the car as a whole, when the page in question clearly makes the distinction between them.
How do you suggest they describe the situation? Do you think they should be banned from mentioning the hardware support?
> Whataboutism is not an argument that the problem isn’t thee, just that we should ignore it because that other guy does it.
So do you think that Apple were wrong to talk about 16-way FaceTime before iOS 12.1 was released? If this is so unreasonable, why didn't anybody complain that Apple were lying about iPhone functionality?
My argument is not that we should ignore wrongdoing because other people do it. My argument is that the reason people do ignore it for other vendors is because it's not wrongdoing.
What they have said explicitly is that they cars are not capable of fully self driving until the software and regulatory approvals are ready. Explicit trumps whatever you think is implicit.
A Tesla car is not just hardware. It's software as well. You are equating claims that are explicitly about the hardware as if they are about the car as a whole, when the page in question clearly makes the distinction between them.
How do you suggest they describe the situation? Do you think they should be banned from mentioning the hardware support?
> Whataboutism is not an argument that the problem isn’t thee, just that we should ignore it because that other guy does it.
So do you think that Apple were wrong to talk about 16-way FaceTime before iOS 12.1 was released? If this is so unreasonable, why didn't anybody complain that Apple were lying about iPhone functionality?
My argument is not that we should ignore wrongdoing because other people do it. My argument is that the reason people do ignore it for other vendors is because it's not wrongdoing.
>What they have said explicitly is that they cars are not capable of fully self driving until the software and regulatory approvals are ready. Explicit trumps whatever you think is implicit.
That's what every scamster who puts 100pt text "This product does X" and them tells in 7pt fine print "fat chance you'll see it doing X" would say.
For one, the "software" might never be ready, it's a hard problem. What timeline they have? What are their guarantees they'll get it? How do they know if the "full self-driving" problem is solved eventually in software, it won't require extra hardware (sensors and such) to operate?
They don't, they just depend on idiots buying their cars thinking a) the autopilot is here, b) the autopilot is near, it's just a matter of shipping the software which they'll release soon.
That's what every scamster who puts 100pt text "This product does X" and them tells in 7pt fine print "fat chance you'll see it doing X" would say.
For one, the "software" might never be ready, it's a hard problem. What timeline they have? What are their guarantees they'll get it? How do they know if the "full self-driving" problem is solved eventually in software, it won't require extra hardware (sensors and such) to operate?
They don't, they just depend on idiots buying their cars thinking a) the autopilot is here, b) the autopilot is near, it's just a matter of shipping the software which they'll release soon.
I’m sorry, I think I established above that I am right and Tesla HW isn’t actually capable of FSD. Why are we still arguing?
Are you telling me I’m wrong or what I say is false and misleading, against all you’ve stated in your comments so far (that there’s no wrongdoing in making unsubstantiated claims)?
Are you telling me I’m wrong or what I say is false and misleading, against all you’ve stated in your comments so far (that there’s no wrongdoing in making unsubstantiated claims)?
Please don't perpetuate tiresome flamewars on HN.
That is a way of winking to buyers and saying,”pssst...it works but we just can’t legally say it works yet.”
I disagree, and I think holding Tesla accountable for something they haven't said is ridiculous.
How about holding them accountable for something they’ve strongly suggested?
But they aren't doing that. They are explicitly telling people it's not ready yet. If you interpret that to mean that it is ready, you're the only one to blame for that.
Tons of people have already interpreted that it is ready, and some of them have died.
Maybe they are to blame. But for practical reason, I don't care much. I interpret Tesla's communication as highly misleading, for the very simple reasons that it could be written in a waaaaay less misleading way, and also because there is absolutely no consensus in the field that their "hardware" will actually be capable one day to fully self drive.
Plus asking the users to distinguish between hardware and (vapor) software is disingenuous and misleading.
Maybe they are to blame. But for practical reason, I don't care much. I interpret Tesla's communication as highly misleading, for the very simple reasons that it could be written in a waaaaay less misleading way, and also because there is absolutely no consensus in the field that their "hardware" will actually be capable one day to fully self drive.
Plus asking the users to distinguish between hardware and (vapor) software is disingenuous and misleading.
this is why regulation exists. it isn't enough to just say "well, we warned you". and tesla has become more stringent in their marketing and careful with warnings of auto-pilot in the wake of all these accidents. they clearly used the named feature to generate hype and sell more cars.
close04(1)
Luckily regulators don't look at only the precise meaning of a sentence, but how the average person in the street understands that sentence.
There are 2 big problems
autopilot is not a real autopilot, in this case marketing names thing as they want since there are not laws what you can call autopilot
The "autopilot" is designed to stop if something happens with the driver not to continue driving, so it OBVIOUS something went very wrong and we don't need to debate that the autopilot saved his life, it could as well killed many other people.
autopilot is not a real autopilot, in this case marketing names thing as they want since there are not laws what you can call autopilot
The "autopilot" is designed to stop if something happens with the driver not to continue driving, so it OBVIOUS something went very wrong and we don't need to debate that the autopilot saved his life, it could as well killed many other people.
> autopilot is not a real autopilot, in this case marketing names thing as they want since there are not laws what you can call autopilot
I'm a bit curious what you think a real autopilot is and how it works. Do you imagine a bunch of planes flying around with pilots asleep or away from the cockpit?
I think autopilot is probably a surprisingly appropriate and accurate name, but most people don't have any real idea what it means so we see a lot of surprising assumptions being brought to bear.
I'm a bit curious what you think a real autopilot is and how it works. Do you imagine a bunch of planes flying around with pilots asleep or away from the cockpit?
I think autopilot is probably a surprisingly appropriate and accurate name, but most people don't have any real idea what it means so we see a lot of surprising assumptions being brought to bear.
Unfortunately I am not the right person to ask since I know what Tesla autopilot is, what you should ask is if you go on the street and ask 100 people what it means that a car has autopilot and maybe show them some popular youtube videos promoted by Tesla fans you will get a number of people telling you that autopilot means that the car will drive itself from point A to B.
I do not understand the point of trying to change the meaning of autopilot to mean lane keeping, or car chasing but with 100% attention still needed, then how will you name the real autopilot ?
In the article it mentioned that a drunk guy said it is OK to drive drunk because of autopilot , do you think he would also be confused if marketing would have been more honest/modest ?
I do not understand the point of trying to change the meaning of autopilot to mean lane keeping, or car chasing but with 100% attention still needed, then how will you name the real autopilot ?
In the article it mentioned that a drunk guy said it is OK to drive drunk because of autopilot , do you think he would also be confused if marketing would have been more honest/modest ?
> I do not understand the point of trying to change the meaning of autopilot to mean lane keeping, or car chasing but with 100% attention still needed, then how will you name the real autopilot ?
Again, I ask you what you think an autopilot function in a plane does?
> do you think he would also be confused if marketing would have been more honest/modest ?
I'm merely noting that you said "autopilot is not a real autopilot", and I think that name is actually accurate, but unfortunately the public has a skewed perception of what autopilot means. Specifically, you can read the first paragraph of Wikipedia's entry for it[1] and it should be fairly clear where the public understanding (and possibly your interpretation) of what autopilot is and what it is and is meant for in reality. To cut to the chase, since you seem to have ignored most my hints to look into how autopilot works, it does not automate every portion of flying a place, but just allows pilots to focus on other aspects of operating the craft. A pilots should not ignore the operation of the plane just because of autopilot any more than a driver should ignore operation of a vehicle with some driving assist technology. In both cases, they are assistive technologies, not replacement for drivers.
If you want to make some case about what Tesla specifically said in addition to the naming, feel free to do so, but I'm not interested in arguing that. It wasn't what you initially argued, and it wasn't why I replied (I'm not interested in defending Tesla, just pointing out the naming may not be quite as bad as you think).
1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopilot
Again, I ask you what you think an autopilot function in a plane does?
> do you think he would also be confused if marketing would have been more honest/modest ?
I'm merely noting that you said "autopilot is not a real autopilot", and I think that name is actually accurate, but unfortunately the public has a skewed perception of what autopilot means. Specifically, you can read the first paragraph of Wikipedia's entry for it[1] and it should be fairly clear where the public understanding (and possibly your interpretation) of what autopilot is and what it is and is meant for in reality. To cut to the chase, since you seem to have ignored most my hints to look into how autopilot works, it does not automate every portion of flying a place, but just allows pilots to focus on other aspects of operating the craft. A pilots should not ignore the operation of the plane just because of autopilot any more than a driver should ignore operation of a vehicle with some driving assist technology. In both cases, they are assistive technologies, not replacement for drivers.
If you want to make some case about what Tesla specifically said in addition to the naming, feel free to do so, but I'm not interested in arguing that. It wasn't what you initially argued, and it wasn't why I replied (I'm not interested in defending Tesla, just pointing out the naming may not be quite as bad as you think).
1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopilot
> Drunk driving is fully the responsibility of the drunk driver. If you ascribe blame to autopilot, then so can the driver.
Blame, whether or legal or moral, isn't zero (or fixed) sum; greater blameworthiness for one party need not be offset by lesser for another.
The liability of an accessory to a crime, for instance, doesn't reduce the liability of principals in that crime.
Blame, whether or legal or moral, isn't zero (or fixed) sum; greater blameworthiness for one party need not be offset by lesser for another.
The liability of an accessory to a crime, for instance, doesn't reduce the liability of principals in that crime.
of course the drunk driving is the driver's fault. i didn't say otherwise. i made two points. one, auto-pilot is a misleadingly named and marketed feature. two, auto-pilot was not necessarily a benefit in this situation as the article implies.
They probably get away with calling it autopilot for several reasons.
#1: Autopilot is mainly two features (Adaptive cruse and auto-steer) that must be enabled in the settings screen, and the driver must click “I agree” on the screen listing the limitations of the feature in reasonably large print. #2: When engaged, the car reminds the driver to pay attention to the road. To engage “autopilot” the driver turns on cruse control, then turns on auto-steer.
Probably when the car can do level 4 driving they will let the driver just engage autopilot, but until then, they should keep having the driver jump through a few hoops to help remind them it’s not complete.
#1: Autopilot is mainly two features (Adaptive cruse and auto-steer) that must be enabled in the settings screen, and the driver must click “I agree” on the screen listing the limitations of the feature in reasonably large print. #2: When engaged, the car reminds the driver to pay attention to the road. To engage “autopilot” the driver turns on cruse control, then turns on auto-steer.
Probably when the car can do level 4 driving they will let the driver just engage autopilot, but until then, they should keep having the driver jump through a few hoops to help remind them it’s not complete.
that style of feature rollout works in a mobile app, but does it work in a car?
For the most part, yes, as most of the systems on a car are not safety critical (eg: someone dies if it fails). I would not like it if they did the same for the brakes on their cars or when they go full level 4.
Autopilot as it stands is on the blurry line between the two sides. Just changing the name I don’t think will fix people’s behavior.
It’s hard to get the point across that if you completely rely on autopilot/supercruse you will die and endanger everyone else without sounding like your full of FUD. There is a small subset of the population that will always think ‘I turned it on and it didn’t immediately kill me, so it must work perfectly in all situations’. As an example, just look at the number of videos of people ghost riding, where they assume that if they can take their hands of the wheel for a few seconds, they can also climb onto the roof of thier car and start dancing while its in motion.
Autopilot as it stands is on the blurry line between the two sides. Just changing the name I don’t think will fix people’s behavior.
It’s hard to get the point across that if you completely rely on autopilot/supercruse you will die and endanger everyone else without sounding like your full of FUD. There is a small subset of the population that will always think ‘I turned it on and it didn’t immediately kill me, so it must work perfectly in all situations’. As an example, just look at the number of videos of people ghost riding, where they assume that if they can take their hands of the wheel for a few seconds, they can also climb onto the roof of thier car and start dancing while its in motion.
I have a friend who had his first seizure because of a brain tumor when he was driving and he blacked out. The car went left across an intersection and hit a sign. He wasn't hurt but was super lucky.
Isn't the autopilot in a tesla pretty similar to what is called autopilot in an airplane?
Aeroplanes have ATC keeping multiple miles of separation, and thousands of feet of height between vehicles, and regulations requiring a pair of awake, sober and aware humans on board.
An aircraft autopilot can be quite dumb and remain safe.
An aircraft autopilot can be quite dumb and remain safe.
An aircraft's autopilot does not absolve the pilot of keeping an eye on the instruments, the flight situation, the windows (if applicable). He has to be ready at any moment to disengage the autopilot or take the controls when the autopilot self-disengages.
The only thing an autopilot, both the tesla's and the airplane's, is good for is reducing the cognitive load of the operator.
The only thing an autopilot, both the tesla's and the airplane's, is good for is reducing the cognitive load of the operator.
We already have a term for that. It is called lane assistance/guidance.
To even bring up aircrafts (or boats or whatever) is incredible disingenuous and not comparable in any practical sense what so ever.
To even bring up aircrafts (or boats or whatever) is incredible disingenuous and not comparable in any practical sense what so ever.
Lane assistance doesn't necessarily regulate speed, as far as I know. I don't think that Teslas marketing is misleading. They are even actively trying to disabuse their customers of the notion that this autopilot is more capable than it is.
Fully agree, but that is not how it is positioned by Tesla, which I think creates most of the problem.
> but that is not how it is positioned by Tesla
I disagree, based on my Model S orientation from my delivery specialist, as well as the very clear warnings on the MCU display regarding the driver needing to maintain control at all times (which is also presented on the dashboard display above the steering wheel each and every time autosteer is enabled). It’s made abundantly clear what the limitations are.
Stupid people will do stupid things. Safeguards have diminishing returns, and does not absolve an operator of personal responsibility.
I disagree, based on my Model S orientation from my delivery specialist, as well as the very clear warnings on the MCU display regarding the driver needing to maintain control at all times (which is also presented on the dashboard display above the steering wheel each and every time autosteer is enabled). It’s made abundantly clear what the limitations are.
Stupid people will do stupid things. Safeguards have diminishing returns, and does not absolve an operator of personal responsibility.
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The grandparent comment is still correct though.
1. it's not practically correct, the experience of using a plane autopilot and tesla's driving assistance is completely different, a plane autopilot will not smash you into a parked truck or a road divider — because they don't exist in the sky, sure, but at the end of the day the important bit is a plane's autopilot is almost certainly going to warn and disengage long before it kills you
2. it's not communicationally correct, most drivers are not pilot, and when you talk about "autopilot" to a layperson they expect an automated driving system (SAE3 or more), and this false impression is exactly why Tesla's marketing named their driving assistance the way they did
3. and it's not really technically correct either, there are autopilots which can do everything between takeoff and taxiing (including landing), tesla's driving assistance can do no such thing
2. it's not communicationally correct, most drivers are not pilot, and when you talk about "autopilot" to a layperson they expect an automated driving system (SAE3 or more), and this false impression is exactly why Tesla's marketing named their driving assistance the way they did
3. and it's not really technically correct either, there are autopilots which can do everything between takeoff and taxiing (including landing), tesla's driving assistance can do no such thing
Plane autopilot doesn't have to deal with obsticles. It has to fly in a straight line with very gradual adjustments. Driving is magnitudes more complex, contextual data, inconsistent behaviors of other drivers, etc.
Airborne collision avoidance system are part of both civil and military aviation. If nothing else Aircraft do need to deal with mountains.
Military aircraft go a step further and avoid hills. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrain-following_radar
Military aircraft go a step further and avoid hills. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrain-following_radar
This is even less complicated than an adaptive cruise control system. If you point it to in the general direction of a mountain, it very much depends on luck if the descent is possible or not.
Terrain-following is significantly more complex than the most basic forms of adaptive cruse control. Radar works much better for tracking discrete objects moving at different speeds than mapping 3d terrain. This is why adaptive cruse control will often hit stationary objects and generally disengage at low speeds.
Remember, the aircraft needs to avoid everything in a line in front of it. But, they also want to stay as low as possible to avoid enemy radar, so it also wants steer steer around hills and even trees vs simply going up.
Remember, the aircraft needs to avoid everything in a line in front of it. But, they also want to stay as low as possible to avoid enemy radar, so it also wants steer steer around hills and even trees vs simply going up.
On the other hand, if you set an airplane autopilot against a mountain, it will happily go there and crash. And try to make an airplane in autopilot land safely in the same way they did with this car.
that is a possibility, but there are key differences that come to mind. one is the different environments. two, the commercial airline pilots are working when using auto-pilot. they are flying the airplane via automation and are still very active in working with the plane and computer systems. they are still performing their jobs. of course, there are still issues, for example the recent boeing plane crash. but to me, it isn't comparable to the tesla situation, especially given the apparent idiocy of tesla owners who have completely bought into the hype compared to professional pilots who actually remain active in flying the plane.
Autopilot is the system that moves the flight surfaces to maintain altitude (or a climb/dive rate), and heading. There is an FMS (Flight Management System) that can give commands to the autopilot. The FMS knows the X,Y,Z of every waypoint and every runway touchdown point, and has in it encoded the 'highway rules' of aviation. When the FMS flies the plane, it is going on a pre-planned route. It does not adapt to anything. Imminent collision with another aircraft (TCAS advisories) alert the pilot to do something, not the FMS/Autopilot. It is a long way from self driving a car. The specifics make it a good analogy, but how much of the public understands it to this depth.
But in terms of the appropriateness of calling the feature “autopilot,” it seems that Tesla’s feature is as deserving of the name as an airplane’s autopilot (the driver/pilot still has to remain alert and focused on what’s happening).
So what you’re implying is that Tesla uses the misguided notion that many people have about the capabilities of an airplane autopilot to promote a feature that doesn’t behave as people expect?
after experiencing this line of inquiry on many forums, yes, that is consensus.
autopilot is the lane guidance of the skies that maintains basic stability not a level 5 system. people hear autopilot and think it means it does "everything."
further muddying the waters, tesla maintains their car has all the hardware, sensors and computation to support fully autonomous driving. it's just that pesky software missing.
autopilot is the lane guidance of the skies that maintains basic stability not a level 5 system. people hear autopilot and think it means it does "everything."
further muddying the waters, tesla maintains their car has all the hardware, sensors and computation to support fully autonomous driving. it's just that pesky software missing.
> autopilot is the lane guidance of the skies that maintains basic stability not a level 5 system.
FWIW that's not necessarily true either, autopilots run the entire gamut from "maintains trajectory and altitude" to "automated flight from takeoff to landing" (only the taxiing is left to the pilot).
FWIW that's not necessarily true either, autopilots run the entire gamut from "maintains trajectory and altitude" to "automated flight from takeoff to landing" (only the taxiing is left to the pilot).
A switch for maintaining bearing and altitude would be pretty useless in a car, but it would definitely cause fewer misunderstandings than the current illusion of autonomy. Supervised autonomy is dangerous no matter how it is labeled, but some labels are worse than others.
that's all well and good, but i am not talking about airplanes' auto-pilot. there are also still differences in terms of everyday joes buying teslas using its auto-pilot versus trained pilots using auto-pilot. there are differences in availability so the airplane situation is not as suscpetible or vulnerable to a poorly named feature and marketing hype. maybe it is, but i wager the tesla situation is worse.
What recent Boeing crash? I cannot think of anything recent involving the autopilot.
Lion Air flight on the new 737 Max I presume.
It isn't exactly the autopilot at cause though according to initial reports, it's the anti-stall system pitching down due to a broken stall sensor, and the pilots not knowing how to disengage it.
pretty sure autopilot in airplanes just monitors rudimentary sensors and follows a gps course.
i dont think most airplanes even have active radar, let alone cameras/lidar and randomly moving obstacle avoidance at milisecond latency, road sign recognition, etc.
comparatively boring at 35k ft. many orders of magnitude complexity difference.
i dont think most airplanes even have active radar, let alone cameras/lidar and randomly moving obstacle avoidance at milisecond latency, road sign recognition, etc.
comparatively boring at 35k ft. many orders of magnitude complexity difference.
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Doesn’t a pilot receive thousands of hours of training to correctly operate and monitor the auto-pilot though ?
Isn’t that because planes are a lot harder to operate than automobiles (or at least our tolerance for accidents is much lower with planes)? The required training to operate Tesla’s autopilot is nothing more than a normal car driver plus following the very simple and constant instructions the car gives (basically just to keep your hands on the wheel, which the car supposedly enforces).
>“The situation is a bit of a puzzle because Autopilot is supposed to detect if a driver's hands are on the wheel and disengage if they're not.”
Lack of information in these still-developing stories makes for some entertaining discussion. We can conjure up all sorts of theories to explain the unexpected phenomena.
I think the sleeping driver was slouched against the wheel and engaging the two-hand steering touch sensor.
Lack of information in these still-developing stories makes for some entertaining discussion. We can conjure up all sorts of theories to explain the unexpected phenomena.
I think the sleeping driver was slouched against the wheel and engaging the two-hand steering touch sensor.
An article with a little more information:
https://mv-voice.com/news/2018/11/30/los-altos-planning-comm...
https://mv-voice.com/news/2018/11/30/los-altos-planning-comm...
My grandfather was fond of telling me about drunks who'd get into their buggy and trust their horse to take them home. I don't think we're too far away from being able to do that with self-driving cars as long as you have the presence of mind to say Google - Home. Society has to decide whether that is a good thing or not.
I’d imaging getting hit by a buggy carried a significantly lower risk of fatality. Not to mention a horse is a better computer than a Tesla. But I agree with your conclusion of course.
My grandma died (long before I was born) after she fell and an ox pulled a cart over her. I wouldn't rely on a horse to stop for a small obstacle like a human.
Not to mention there was significantly less buggy traffic than there’s car traffic today.
I think maybe that should be a goal for "strong AI" - not human intelligence, just the intelligence of a semi-smart animal.
well, that's still almost as complicated as human intelligence. the only main part that's missing is language. and to be fair, although human natural languages are really tricky, you could easily build communicative, natural-like languages that computers can handle (similar in appearance to simplified english). in any case, if you are solving learning, which is needed for a semi-smart animal intelligence, you probably wouldn't be far away from solving language. we are very semi-smart ourselves
So depressed to realize that the past few generations have been the only time in history we haven’t had autonomous vehicles.
To be honest, all horses pooped in the street (which led to epidemics of infectious diseases) and many horses freaked out and trampled passers-by, which lead them to more road death then we have now. I’m no fan of the automobile by a wide margin, but it was an uncontestable overall improvement over carriages.
Horses have pretty good collision avoidance, but even they have a false positive problem; they're easily spooked by flapping plastic bags and other unexpected movement in their visual field.
As far as I know, it is legal to ride a horse drunk (as long as the horse is sober) in some places. Montana has even put a horse picking up a drunk from a bar in one of the adverts against drink driving. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnYtY9wfvvc
Do you know if it's legal for a sober person to ride a drunk horse? And how do horses even get drunk??
>And how do horses even get drunk??
You know those extra thick milkshakes you get in burger franchises? Try not to buy them from the cheaper places.
You know those extra thick milkshakes you get in burger franchises? Try not to buy them from the cheaper places.
A friend of mine does that regularly — as early as three months ago. She even asked about where to have capes made because it gets cold if you don’t wake up when you are in front of the barn. Her relationship with her horse is a little closer than you’d expect though: she writes poems to him. The horse tells her when it’s time to go home.
Suddenly I really hope Bob Zemeckis reads HN.
If sometime in the future self driving cars reach the point that they are better drivers than the average human driver then it will be better if the non drunks too let their cars do the driving.
I’m not sure how much of a libertarian Elon Musk is, but similar stories would give voice to demand that Telsas be able to recognise a Police car flagging you, and pulling up safely unless over-ridden to keep on by the driver.
This Tesla saved the life of a driver who fell asleep (drunk) behind the wheel, as well as the lives of others on the road around it. Having seen first hand what often happens when people do that I don’t understand what everyone’s complaining about.
People drink and drive. It’s a huge problem in this country. If Tesla autopilot made him drive drunk then needle exchanges promote drug use. You can’t have it both way folks. It’s either a public safety issue or it’s not.
People drink and drive. It’s a huge problem in this country. If Tesla autopilot made him drive drunk then needle exchanges promote drug use. You can’t have it both way folks. It’s either a public safety issue or it’s not.
I upvoted your comment because it’s a reasonable position to take, in my opinion.
I guess the down voters are probably wondering what would have happened if nobody tried to stop the vehicle. The obvious thing to do is slow down and stop in front of it, unless the car wound then change lanes out of the way. That’s a worrying thought.
I tend to agree with your sentiment, at least in the future tense: self driving cars could, at least theoretically, drive sleeping / inebriated / injured people.
We’re probably not there yet, and I don’t believe Tesla advertise this as a feature.
I guess the down voters are probably wondering what would have happened if nobody tried to stop the vehicle. The obvious thing to do is slow down and stop in front of it, unless the car wound then change lanes out of the way. That’s a worrying thought.
I tend to agree with your sentiment, at least in the future tense: self driving cars could, at least theoretically, drive sleeping / inebriated / injured people.
We’re probably not there yet, and I don’t believe Tesla advertise this as a feature.
I think the downvotes are because the GP makes a sweeping generalization to conclude and makes it seem as if the auto-pilot was the only reason the man survived.
Based on the report and the description of how Tesla's auto-pilot functionality is supposed to work, it sounds like a bug or unintended activation of the auto-pilot prevented an initial tragedy, and the Highway Patrol luckily developed a smart way of safely stopping the car. As was commented elsewhere, the story would have been way different had any number of factors, human or AI, been slightly different.
I really hope that a proper review on what engaged the auto-pilot here is performed so there is a clearer understanding.
But as for the GP, I personally find their post to be contentless, even if their reaction is one that many people might have.
Based on the report and the description of how Tesla's auto-pilot functionality is supposed to work, it sounds like a bug or unintended activation of the auto-pilot prevented an initial tragedy, and the Highway Patrol luckily developed a smart way of safely stopping the car. As was commented elsewhere, the story would have been way different had any number of factors, human or AI, been slightly different.
I really hope that a proper review on what engaged the auto-pilot here is performed so there is a clearer understanding.
But as for the GP, I personally find their post to be contentless, even if their reaction is one that many people might have.
If a car is "intelligent" enough to drive, it should be able to refuse to transport a drunk driver too.
That option was tried: a company developed a safety system on top of a car’s ignition. To start, the driver had to blow into an alcohol test. It was meant for parents’ letting their teenagers drive their car and court-mandates.
The system was rapidly scraped when people realise someone else could easily blow in.
The system was rapidly scraped when people realise someone else could easily blow in.
Parents feeling the need to install these things seems misguided at best. But IID are in use all over the world and Universal IID hasn’t got far - as you’d expect.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignition_interlock_device
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignition_interlock_device
Unless it’s a taxi, right?
I mean, when I catch a taxi home after I’ve been drinking, I’m not the driver, so your point stands.
But if the car really could self drive then it could be a selfdriving taxi?
I mean, when I catch a taxi home after I’ve been drinking, I’m not the driver, so your point stands.
But if the car really could self drive then it could be a selfdriving taxi?
FFS, summon a Lyft/Uber.
Well, the "hands on wheel, driver paying attention" detection system clearly wasn't effective.
Fortunately he was headed north on US 101, not south. Seven miles ending in Palo Alto means he went through the 101-85 interchange where a Tesla hit the divider barrier and killed the driver. But that shallow-angle split is southbound only. Northbound, you can go seven miles to Palo Alto without any unusual offramps that would confuse Tesla's lane-follower.
Tesla's lane follower is pretty good. That's what creates the illusion that it can self-drive. Car-ahead detection, reasonably good. Obstacle detection, not so good. So the CHP did the right thing, boxing it in with their patrol cars and slowing down. It would have been much worse if they'd set up a roadblock.
Fortunately he was headed north on US 101, not south. Seven miles ending in Palo Alto means he went through the 101-85 interchange where a Tesla hit the divider barrier and killed the driver. But that shallow-angle split is southbound only. Northbound, you can go seven miles to Palo Alto without any unusual offramps that would confuse Tesla's lane-follower.
Tesla's lane follower is pretty good. That's what creates the illusion that it can self-drive. Car-ahead detection, reasonably good. Obstacle detection, not so good. So the CHP did the right thing, boxing it in with their patrol cars and slowing down. It would have been much worse if they'd set up a roadblock.
I wonder how much longer is it going to be until we get a regulatory required pull over signal for autonomous systems and how in the hell you would secure it considering it would need to be used by countless law enforcement agencies world wide and would need to be implemented by multiple manufacturers.
I’m pretty sure it would be some emergency stop button in the cabbin at first but then someone somewhere would want to pass a law that would enable the police to remotely initiate it.
I’m pretty sure it would be some emergency stop button in the cabbin at first but then someone somewhere would want to pass a law that would enable the police to remotely initiate it.
>> we get a regulatory required pull over signal for autonomous systems and how in the hell you would secure it considering it would need to be used by countless law enforcement agencies world wide
Regulatory requirement is per jurisdiction, isn’t it.
Regulatory requirement is per jurisdiction, isn’t it.
Yes and no, people tend to drive their cars outside of a given jurisdiction as in a Tesla owner in California might drive to Nevada or even Canada or Mexico.
Also I don’t think manufacturers would want to develop 500 system so when the first demand comes they’ll likely implement it across the board.
I would also not be surprised if they find a way (or at least try too) to charge LEO’s for this “services” similarly to how cellphone companies charge for wiretaps, call logs and telemetry data.
Also I don’t think manufacturers would want to develop 500 system so when the first demand comes they’ll likely implement it across the board.
I would also not be surprised if they find a way (or at least try too) to charge LEO’s for this “services” similarly to how cellphone companies charge for wiretaps, call logs and telemetry data.
It'll allow criminals to intercept and kill drivers in empty roads, not very good solution. At least driver should be able to disable this system.
A "law enforcement has requested that your car pull over automatically, press here if you don't want this to happen" dialog would serve the need here while also protecting passengers from bad actors.
How do you differentiate between “real” law enforcement and fake ?
Isn’t this an issue with or without a self-driving car?
In the US you can call 112 to verify it. Also you can turn on you hazzard lights slow down and drive to a safe place, most cops are thankful when you avoid stopping on a dangerous part of the highway like narrow shoulders or ramps.
You just always push it, and get pulled over the old fashioned way.
Well, you could look to see if the cops are behind you. If it's a malicious actor posing in cop cars already, I think there's bigger issues, since most will stop if they see they're being followed by a cop with their lights on.
In my country you could choose not to stop and instead drive to the nearest police station, if you have doubts whether cops are legitimate. They are supposed to escort you or something like that.
Hence the “how will we secure them” at some point there will be no driver, even if the car still has a steering wheele and controls you might be in the back seat napping while the car drives you.
Audi already has a backseat traffic driver mode where you can get a foot rub while the car drives in traffic.
This will eventually require a solution.
Audi already has a backseat traffic driver mode where you can get a foot rub while the car drives in traffic.
This will eventually require a solution.
Where's the profit in that? Generally criminals are motivated by profit, and wanton destruction.
Steal car and everything inside.
Data point: that part of 101 is getting the new lane divider treatment. Also, the aforementioned HOV exit to 85 now has lines across the gore point.
No more Botts dots.
No more Botts dots.
> Fortunately he was headed north on US 101, not south.
The article states: "The vehicle was traveling southbound on Highway 101 in Palo Alto."
The article states: "The vehicle was traveling southbound on Highway 101 in Palo Alto."
Thanks. So there he was, headed for the same place the last Tesla fatal crash occurred.
The interchanges for seven miles north of Palo Alto are all rather vanilla, too. 85 is the only big, complicated interchange near there.
The interchanges for seven miles north of Palo Alto are all rather vanilla, too. 85 is the only big, complicated interchange near there.
This is so surreal. Just imagine reading about something like this five or ten years ago.
Am I the only one thinking of the first episode of knight rider? Where Michael Knight fell asleep while driving and had to prentend he was a deaf guy with a bad neck.
Tesla should be rename Autopilot to Auto-cruise Lane guidance.
However this would have ended more dramatically if the driver had a car from another brand (except a Waymo, in which case he wouldn't be at the driver's seat)
However this would have ended more dramatically if the driver had a car from another brand (except a Waymo, in which case he wouldn't be at the driver's seat)
Sounds like the answer is giving the police a special button that can take control of the car and pull it over automatically
All they need to do is box it in, and if it's functioning properly, it will stop itself.
Do any cars pull themselves over when they detect flashing emergency vehicle lights? That would’ve probably worked here and might be the ultimate answer.
Please no.
This would be the worst answer.
Technology like that will certainly be abused.
Technology like that will certainly be abused.
I upvoted an unpopular opinion, and I think it's worth reiterating. The autopilot feature in this case probably saved the guy's life and other drivers around him - if he was drunk, his decision to drive probably wasn't based on autopilot anyways.
How would lane keep assist and automatic emergency braking, both of which would have triggered at the first hint of being tired with very strong alerts:
a) not have saved his life
b) not encouraged him to rely on them to make up for his current state
Now a basic Corolla will detect that you’re sleepy and encourage you to pull over if it has to intervene often enough. Autopilot is a step backwards from systems like this.
a) not have saved his life
b) not encouraged him to rely on them to make up for his current state
Now a basic Corolla will detect that you’re sleepy and encourage you to pull over if it has to intervene often enough. Autopilot is a step backwards from systems like this.
You are making way too many assumptions here for my taste. It's easy for me to assume that having autopilot probably did influence his decision to drink and drive.
People think the alternate headline is “man drives home safely.” It’s actually “it took 700 feet for a sleeping driver to crash.”