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GM Says Driverless Cars Will Be Ready By 2018

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the look-ma-no-hands dept.

Gregor Stipicic writes "Cars that drive themselves — even parking at their destination — could be ready for sale within a decade, General Motors Corp. executives say. 'This is not science fiction,' Larry Burns, GM's vice president for research and development, said in a recent interview. GM plans to use an inexpensive computer chip and an antenna to link vehicles equipped with driverless technologies. The first use likely would be on highways; people would have the option to choose a driverless mode while they still would control the vehicle on local streets, Burns said. He said the company plans to test driverless car technology by 2015 and have cars on the road around 2018."

14 of 646 comments (clear)

  1. Good by _PimpDaddy7_ · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm sure the AI will drive much better than some of the people on these roads in Boston LOL

    1. Re:Good by zippthorne · · Score: 4, Funny

      Computer drives your car, leaving YOU free to man the turret. If Phone-y McSoccerMom gets too close, Blast her with a holosonic warning, "quit emailing movies of jr. or quit putting on makeup. Better yet, Both! Also, pay attention to the road. Unsevered necks don't grow on trees, you know." Then take a picture on your iiiPhone and email it to traffic control.

      Further, what makes you think you can react to road dangers faster than a radar-equipped mesh-networking auto-bot?

      --
      Can you be Even More Awesome?!
    2. Re:Good by Rei · · Score: 4, Funny

      Why do they need a new chip for this? There are already perfectly good navigation algorithms. They should license use of the Roomba's navigation system from iRobot and install that on cars. Sure, they'll need front bumper sensors and a cliff sensor, but that's pretty trivial.

      --
      Next to my desk we have an Ire Extinguisher. Our boss is really assertive, so we like the idea of having it.
  2. The possibilities are endless! by geminidomino · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just imagine the crossover deals this will open up.

    "Drive to Pathmark"

    "Pathmark is overrated. Destination modified to Walmart." *doors lock*

    1. Re:The possibilities are endless! by Lord+Ender · · Score: 4, Funny

      Eventually, GOOG will use it's huge market cap to move in to the Auto space. They will begin offering free, advertising-sponsored cars. They will monitor your driving habits and steer you near relevant businesses, showing ads for the businesses in the HUD.

      --
      A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
    2. Re:The possibilities are endless! by geminidomino · · Score: 3, Funny

      Gods, I hope my girlfriend isn't in the car when I pass Cindy's [Topless] Steakhouse!

    3. Re:The possibilities are endless! by ishmaelflood · · Score: 5, Funny

      Why, is she vegetarian?

  3. Sounds about right. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I haven't driven a GM car in years. So yeah I can see GM cars becoming driverless within my lifetime.

  4. Re:But the big question is... by Kenoli · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm still waiting for Lavos to pop out of the ground, in 1999.

  5. priorities, priorities by themushroom · · Score: 3, Funny

    Driverless cars by 2018. Like there aren't enough of those out there.

    Slightly better fuel efficiency by 2020, only 30 years after it was first proposed.

    Government actually requiring that cars not be totally dependant upon gasoline, which would be practical? Crystal ball can't see that far ahead.

    --
    Laughter is the Spackle of the Soul.
  6. Re:And monkeys might fly out of my butt by ScentCone · · Score: 3, Funny

    There will not be a mass-produced flying car though. That simply requires too much energy and we have a large enough energy problem as it is. Unless you want to use a derigible there is drag induced just by the act of flying which causes an additional amount of energy to be consumed as opposed to staying on the ground.

    You don't read enough. There already exists a perfectly good sky car . 20mpg on pure, clean-burning ethanol, and completely safe computerized navigation and flight control. And it's quiet. And it goes well over 200mph, and can take off and land vertically, right in your yard. I can't believe you don't know about this vehicle. It's even red!

    --
    Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
  7. Re:Obligatory by greeze · · Score: 5, Funny

    In Soviet Russia, YOU drive CAR?

  8. Number 1 use by inverselimit · · Score: 4, Funny

    I guarantee the number one application in cities will be telling your car to circle so you don't have to find parking. Traffic will get way worse, then this will be outlawed.

  9. Re:Obligatory by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 4, Funny

    No: In Soviet Russia, YOU drive CZAR (out).