Re: Robocar--a decade away?

On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:04:44 -0600, "Ken from Chicago"
<kwicker1b_nospam@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>
>"Bill Snyder" <bsnyder@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
>news:n11bo3lrf5jo1ir43r5d8l51i1qedojqeh@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> On Wed, 9 Jan 2008 20:07:42 -0600, "Ken from Chicago"
>> <kwicker1b_nospam@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"David DeLaney" <dbd@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>>>news:slrnfo9k64.r1i.dbd@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>> Matthias Warkus <Warkus@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>>>>Ken from Chicago schrieb:
>>>>>> But news coming out of CES this is that robocar could be on the
road, 
>>>>>> on
>>>>>> sale in ONE DECADE, around 2018:
>>>>>
>>>>>Yeah, right.
>>>>
>>>> Didn't we just _have_ the "robot cars wouldn't be allowed on the
roads
>>>> until
>>>> they were artificially intelligent" thread a month or two ago?
>>>>
>>>> Dave
>>>
>>>Autopilots don't have AI.
>>
>> Free clues:  How far apart are airliners supposed to stay?  How far
>> apart are cars supposed to stay?  How many highways have traffic
>> controllers in radio contact with each car?  How many of them track
>> each car by radar, for that matter?  Is there any reason to suppose
>> that an autopilot for an airliner might just possibly have an easier
>> job than an autopilot for a flying car; that traffic densities might
>> be heavier on the aerial highway at rush hour than they are on airline
>> routes?
>>
>> -- 
>> Bill Snyder   [This space unintentionally left blank.]
>
>How long have they ALREADY had autopilots? Is it possible they've
INCREASED 
>the technology over the past several decades to REDUCE the distance
between 
>vehicles? Have you heard of "smart cruise control" where cars in cruise 
>control can ALREADY automatically brake if they get too close to a
vehicle 
>in front of it?
>
>http://www.forbesautos.com/advice/toptens/future-safety-features/lander/04-smart-cruise-control.html
>
>http://www.aip.org/dbis/stories/2004/14253.html
>

Yes, I've heard of that.  I've also heard of committing suicide.
Neither one appeals to me, and for much the same reasons.  How much
realtime control software have you written, over how many decades?

-- 
Bill Snyder   [This space unintentionally left blank.]