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Stanford Robot Car Capable of Slide Parking

kkleiner writes "Stanford's Junior, the robot car that took second place at DARPA's Grand Challenge in 2007, has learned how to perform a tire-squealing 180-degree spin into a skin-tight parking space. Similar to a James Bond action scene, the maneuver is impressive and would be extremely difficult for a human to pull off. We won't be handing the keys over to robot cars anytime soon, but Stanford shows us that at least for some driving tasks robot cars can already meet or even exceed human ability."

16 of 265 comments (clear)

  1. Rude-bot by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    To counter, I'm inventing the Automatic Finger to quickly signal my frustration at being cut-off from my parking spot.

  2. Toyota by phantomfive · · Score: 5, Funny

    We won't be handing the keys over to robot cars anytime soon

    Heh.....let's work on getting cars to stop reliably before we start talking about that

    --
    Qxe4
    1. Re:Toyota by Iyonesco · · Score: 2, Funny

      With the new auto-breaking system Volvos stop reliably without even the need for a driver:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNi17YLnZpg

      Er...okay maybe you have a point.

  3. Wind noise by Itninja · · Score: 2, Funny

    I know it's all bobo-chis to shot amateur video and whatnot, but can a brother get some noise reduction up in here? I mean, DAMN.

    --
    I judt got a nre Kinesis keybiartf so please excusr ant egregiou typos.
  4. I have to tel lthis story, it's too awesome by Saint+Stephen · · Score: 1, Funny

    Way back in the ancient days of 1987, I was given my grandmother's maroon Ford Fairlane (no radio). I carpooled to school with two other guys, including this asshole. I used to show off by swerving down this road, going fast and swerving from one far extreme edge to the other, just to piss the one guy off.

    One day I lost control during a swerve, and did a perfect 180 turn the way this article describes. I ended up facing the exact right way (except the opposite way), and exactly in the right part of the lane. I just pretended like I did it on purpose and drove off like Mr. Cool.

    This was a good thing.

  5. Re:Three Points by AdmiralXyz · · Score: 5, Funny

    I detect insecurity in your tone, human.

    --
    Dislike the Electoral College? Lobby your state to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
  6. Turbo Boost by sanman2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now that the tire-squealing precision-skidding has been mastered, we just need the turbo boost and the annoying nasal voice synthesizer to round out the look and feel.

    1. Re:Turbo Boost by antifoidulus · · Score: 4, Funny

      Damn robots with their sagging cases, showing the whole god damn world their CPUs. Get the hell off my lawn before I call Bruce Schnier on your asses!

    2. Re:Turbo Boost by Barny · · Score: 3, Funny

      Your hostillity toward the Computer has been noted citizen, please report to the "armour testing lab" for re-assignment.

      Praise the computer!

      note: that is the lab right beside "exotic unstable weapons testing" lab.

      --
      ...
      /me sighs
  7. Impressive... by Eil · · Score: 5, Funny

    But where's the style? I thought it was common knowledge that the very first thing you're supposed to do after you've programmed a park to screech into a parking space is install a loudspeaker behind the grille which yells out, "heeeee-like a glove!"

  8. VW's luxury brother already poked fun at this... by 1984 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... before it even happened. A few Lexus introduced the automatic parallel parking feature, and Audi responded with this:

          http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3593724097279407250#

    Amusing retort. Irrelevant for 99.9%+ of people, but sold right into the person you'd love to be.

  9. Re:Just a few points... by Chuck+Chunder · · Score: 5, Funny

    While I don't intend any sexism

    I guess it must just come naturally then.

    --
    Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
  10. Re:Umm... I have a question. by chromas · · Score: 3, Funny

    Doesn't matter—they always explode just as you're approaching them.

  11. Re:Just a few points... by mgblst · · Score: 2, Funny

    I know, how dare anyone post something that isn't COMPLETELY REVOLUTIONARY, and change the way everybody does everything, in their lives. Anything less than that is not worthy of my attention. That is why I am so much fun at parties.

  12. Re:Stanford hasn't heard of gymkhana, apparently. by mgblst · · Score: 2, Funny

    Call me when they can do what he does.

    Ok mr super unimpressed, you forgot to leave your phone number.

  13. So... by durrr · · Score: 3, Funny

    In the future, not only will cars drive themselves, they will do so in the most action packed manner possible.
    I'm looking for funding to put ramps and pyrotechnics all over national highways.