Full Autonomy All But Confirmed for 3, "We're doing the obvious thing"

[jkk_]

I find that phrase (it's two words, not one) quite clear: it means a vehicle that is capable of driving from start to destination, as determined by the human sitting in it, without any human input other then specifying the destination.

That is what it means to me. What word(s) do you use to describe a vehicle with that capability?

Google is operating cars that are capable of "full autonomy" right now, so it is not a theoretical concept.

Just to split hairs, wouldn't it actually mean that the car decides where it wants to go?

 

[zenmaster]

I find that phrase (it's two words, not one) quite clear: it means a vehicle that is capable of driving from start to destination, as determined by the human sitting in it, without any human input other then specifying the destination.

That is what it means to me. What word(s) do you use to describe a vehicle with that capability?

Google is operating cars that are capable of "full autonomy" right now, so it is not a theoretical concept.

Ah but the tech is not yet available for a car to make all decisions from any two points under the normal conditions we face on the roadways. Therefore the idea of "full autonomy" being available is BS unless the phrase is redefined to mean partial autonomy.

 

[alseTrick]

Just to split hairs, wouldn't it actually mean that the car decides where it wants to go?

No, that would be self awareness, not autonomy.

 

[ecarfan]

Ah but the tech is not yet available for a car to make all decisions from any two points under the normal conditions we face on the roadways. Therefore the idea of "full autonomy" being available is BS unless the phrase is redefined to mean partial autonomy.

The Google cars that I have seen for years driving the freeways and surface streets of the SF Bay Area where I live are fully autonomous by the definition I gave in my post above.

"Full autonomy" for cars does exist. It is not yet for sale to the consumer. But it is obviously not BS, and based on Google's data it is clearly safer than human drivers.

 

[zenmaster]

"Full autonomy" for cars does exist. It is not yet for sale to the consumer.

If the conditions are restricted for "full autonomy" capabilities, when a human driver would not have same limitations then the phrase is obviously actually describing some level of limited "assisted driving".

You must at least include the exception conditions in the definition of "fully autonomous" where a human would be required to operate the car.

 

[Topher]

... but by Elon's admission it'll be the obvious thing.

Remember Elon thought electric cars were the 'obvious thing' back in 2003, or actually way before. I don't think it means the same thing to most people as it does to him.

Thank you kindly.

 

[JeffK]

Remember Elon thought electric cars were the 'obvious thing' back in 2003, or actually way before. I don't think it means the same thing to most people as it does to him.

Thank you kindly.

Everyone's expecting full autonomy and Elon said in the latest call that they are currently doing things [regarding autonomy] that impress even him so he feels that when the world see it they will be equally impressed.

 

[Alketi]

Interesting industry news (apologies if it's already been posted).

The CTO of Google's self-driving car project just left the company, along with two other executives:

http://www.pcmag.com/news/346823/google-loses-car-project-cto

The View from the Front Seat of the Google Self-Driving Car: A New Chapter

This follows up a number of other senior executives who broke off last year to form the self-driving trucking startup Otto.