Slashdot Mirror
When an Algorithm Takes the Wheel
Wired has an interesting look at Jaguar's new automated driving dynamics system in their new XK convertible. From the article: "During an extreme test of the XK's handling capabilities, the car only fishtailed back and forth once after I jerked the steering wheel on a wet road around a 90 degree turn while driving at about 60 mph. The car's back wheels swung first left then right before the XK's sensors registered a difference in torque between the rear tires and, transparent to me, righted the fishtailing effect by a combination of de-acceleration, tire rotation and vehicle weight distribution control. More often than not, the sensation of flatness, as if there were a vertical force pinning the car to the road, was also felt then and when taking less extreme curves at high speeds."
KITT: "Michael, I don't think I can do that"
Michael: "That's alright little buddy, I know you can" [Pushes button to do STUPID ass maneouver]
Also, "Little buddy" does Michael not realize that he is a human, 6'4, probably about 180lbs (David Hasselhoff is kinda lankey) talking to a car that you know - weighs a lot - especially with all the toys it has built into it.
I mod down so you can mod up. Your welcome.
"More often than not, the sensation of flatness, as if there were a vertical force pinning the car to the road, was also felt then and when taking less extreme curves at high speeds."
Yeah, if only there was such a force...
I dunno. My old Honda definitely had a noticable cadence when it fell below idle. Although I don't see why anyone would tout that as a centerpiece feature...
This guy's the limit!
I rotate my tires periodically as well, but not usually when negotiating a 90 degree turn at 60 mph.
I think I might love this idea being fully explored. Add some more IA, a social conscience. The I-5 and I-405 will get much nicer.
Or,
Or,
To be honest, I still want control of my car. I'll drive, thank you. (Still don't trust ABS since I hit that deer.)
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong fix.
a combination of de-acceleration, tire rotation and vehicle weight distribution control.
Translation: The car tossed him out the window.
The opinions stated herein do not necessarily represent those of anybody at all. Deal with it.
Well, the safest thing you can drive is probably an M-1 abrams tank, for $5,000,000, but I doubt many people would actually buy one of those even if they were available to the public :)
They are, they're called SUVs: same weight, same mileage, same damage to other cars in an accident, it just doesn't have the big gun and the tracks.
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
Reminds me of a guy I knew who had a gravel driveway. Really thick layer of gravel. In his old car, he'd mastered the technique of pulling into the driveway at a fairly good speed, slamming on the brakes so the wheels locked, and plowing through the gravel to a perfect stop. Always ended up just a few feet from the garage door.
Then he bought a newer car. With anti-lock brakes. Came home straight from the dealer, went to do his little trick into the driveway, and drove right through the garage door. Of course the ABS didn't let the wheels lock, so the car went much farther than expected as it tried (and succeeded) to nullify his maneuver with a controlled stop. Too bad the car didn't know about the garage door. Heh.
Ah, yes, the United States, where every other driver on the road is an idiot except you.
Wow! You're my hero! If only the entire driving public could consist solely of Slashdot readers like you. From what I've seen here, everyone one of us is an expert at combat driving techniques and controls a car in emergency situations better than these automated systems 100% of the time.
It's amazing to me that those automotive engineers that developed these systems and the racing teams that require them in all their cars didn't think to implement a far easier solution - just teach Redhat distro installation classes to new drivers instead of Driver's Ed and sign anti-RIAA loyalty oaths.
My God! Hackers would no longer have to momentarily disable the ignition with a localized EMF pulse while scanning the IR keylock and forcing out the owner with body odour.
"A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming, is not worth knowing" - Alan Perlis
I've often though that they should abolish motorcycle helmet laws (for adults) but require that you sign an organ donor card if you're not going to wear a helmet. Everybody wins!
No, there are two classes of drivers other than me:
Everyone who drives faster than I do is an asshole. Everyone who drives slower than me is an idiot.
That means that only about 95% of drivers are idiots.