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Video and poll: Robot Cars?

• 1.

  Levinson states that there is a strong likelihood we will have machine-driven cars in the next ten years, however a total transition from 100% of the people driving their own cars to 0%, will take some time. Which advantages of robot cars, as outlined by Levinson, most appeal to you? (Choose up to 3) 

   

  

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    Better safety: robots have instantaneous reaction times—people’s reaction times are slow. Robot’s don’t use the cell phone, nor get tired, etc.
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    People will be able to get around well into old age.
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    Pollution will change with battery-operated robot cars; the electricity needed will be generated away from the cars and away from the Cities; maybe even using renewable resources.
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    None! I don’t like the idea of robot cars.
• 2.

  After watching the video on the self-driving Google car (deployed now for over one year, and 100,000 miles), how comfortable do you think you would feel riding through busy traffic during your morning commute? 

   

  

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    I would choose another option for commuting.
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    I’d be clutching the dashboard during the entire ride.
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    Excited for the experience, but would be ready to react and take over driving at any moment.
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    I’d eat breakfast while enjoying the sites.
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    I’d have my head buried in my laptop, trying to get some work done.
• 3.

  Levinson suggests that we’re headed into a period of great change in transportation. What do you hope changes and what do you hope doesn’t change?

  Recent answers given:

  • I hope we don't use robot cars to encourage longer commutes. I hope we increase safety and reduce accients and deaths, especially from drunk driving. I hope we find ways to accomodate the likely mix of robot and human controlled cars since so many people will not give up driving.
  • Transportation costs as a percentage of net income need to come down but not by more technology, just common sense. Live close to work or places that have effective mass transit. Walk and bike ride if possible. All of these futuristic plans for robot cars just encourage people not to think and make their transportation needs even more dependent on yet another collection of international mega corporations. Designing more expensive solutions to an already too expensive luxury is not the answer.
  • More cost effective and efficient in terms of land, ppm, infrastructure and energy than all the bus lanes and rail combined.

by Big Jim Slade on May 16, 2011 @ 12:13pm

More cost effective and efficient in terms of land, ppm, infrastructure and energy than all the bus lanes and rail combined.