Self-Driving Cars Will Be In 30 US Cities By the End of Next Year

schwit1 sends this report from the New York Observer: Automated vehicle pilot projects will roll out in the U.K. and in six to 10 U.S. cities this year, with the first unveiling projected to be in Tampa Bay, Florida as soon as late spring. The following year, trial programs will launch in 12 to 20 more U.S. locations, which means driverless cars will be on roads in up to 30 U.S. cities by the end of 2016. The trials will be run by Comet LLC, a consulting firm focused on automated vehicle commercialization. ... they’re focusing on semi-controlled areas and that the driverless vehicles will serve a number of different purposes—both public and private. The vehicles themselves—which are all developed by Veeo Systems—will even vary from two-seaters to full-size buses that can transport 70 people. At some locations, the vehicles will drive on their own paths, occasionally crossing vehicle and pedestrian traffic, while at others, the vehicles will be completely integrated with existing cars.

Comments

Sounds good

[gurps_npc]

Please note that this test includes buses - which are far more likely to become the first self-driving vehicle that a private car.

The vehicles travel slower, set routes. The cost to add the self-driving capability is a lower percentage of the total cost of the vehicle. Finally, over the long term they save money by removing the necessity of paying a driver.

Still not as perfect as using the tech on garbage trucks. They move even slower, have less union opposition (because you are only getting rid of the driver, not the attendants that load the vehicle. But no one's perfect.

Already got 'em

[OffTheLip]

Based on the number of drivers I see texting while driving there appears to be an abundance of self-driving cars where I live.

A real test: Orlando, FL

[msobkow]

If they want a real test, try Orlando, Florida. I found it the most trying city to drive in of any I've ever lived in, thanks to the joyous combination of people visiting from Ohio that expect a mile clear ahead of them and people from New York who think 6 inches is enough of a gap for someone to cut them off.

Re:Boston, in the winter?

[JeffOwl]

The cars should be smart enough to stop for any object blocking the road or moving predicted to be blocking the road when the car gets there. The question of the police officer is interesting though. And what if it isn't a police officer? What if there is simply a car or truck stopped blocking your lane, loading or unloading or just double parked. Will the car know when it is safe to cross into the other lane and go around?

Do the cars have an alarm or something that alerts the occupant (back-up driver) in the event it gets confused?