Autonomous Vehicles

[sesevans]

NTSB report on Uber fatality in Tempe Arizona

Uber's technology failed to spot the pedestrian and brake, raising serious questions about its performance.

"The report said the vehicle’s radar systems observed the pedestrian six seconds before impact but “the self-driving system software classified the pedestrian as an unknown object, as a vehicle, and then as a bicycle.”

"At 1.3 seconds before impact, the self-driving system determined emergency braking was needed, but Uber said emergency braking maneuvers were not enabled while the vehicle was under computer control in order to reduce the potential for erratic vehicle behavior."

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...d-to-recognize-pedestrian-brake-idUSKCN1IP26K

 

[sesevans]

...and Ars Tecnica: when Uber is ready to begin self driving car testing, it may find it has nowhere to do it. They really are in deep sh...t over their inadequate technology and their cavalier attitude towards safety.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2018/0...cars-in-pittsburgh-again-the-mayor-is-******/

 

[sesevans]

Wired: California's heavy handed plan to regulate the self driving car biz

At the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC's) public meeting this week discussions were held on PUCs proposals for the future of the self driving taxi business in California. It was not what the industry was hoping to hear. Their proposal would not let companies charge for rides, take passengers to or from the airport, or run shared, pooled rides. It would require any specific vehicle carrying passengers to first undergo 90 days of on-road testing. It would require reams of data from developers: miles traveled, miles traveled without passengers, collision and disengagement reports and transcripts of any communication between riders and driverless vehicles' remote operators within 24 hours. The pilot would last for an indefinite period of time, to let California learn about what it might take to write final rules for self driving taxis.

PUCs commissioners are set to make their pilot project final next week in a vote, subject to changes required if industry creates compelling reasons.

Stay tuned.

 

[jpaul]

NTSB report on Uber fatality in Tempe Arizona

thanks had missed that ...
although there is not a lot of detail even in the report itself https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HWY18MH010-prelim.pdf
from https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/8lvzcq/uber_in_fatal_crash_detected_pedestrian_but_had/
- maybe final report will be better ... 4 pages for someones life.

Detail like whether automatic braking(&avoidance apparently) would have genuinely avoided accident; the 6 seconds first spotted too, was that better than a human ?
and the 64K$ question of whether waymo or automatic braking systems (eg volvos / tesla's) would have avoided accident.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

Wired: California's heavy handed plan to regulate the self driving car biz

At the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC's) public meeting this week discussions were held on PUCs proposals for the future of the self driving taxi business in California. It was not what the industry was hoping to hear. Their proposal would not let companies charge for rides, take passengers to or from the airport, or run shared, pooled rides. It would require any specific vehicle carrying passengers to first undergo 90 days of on-road testing. It would require reams of data from developers: miles traveled, miles traveled without passengers, collision and disengagement reports and transcripts of any communication between riders and driverless vehicles' remote operators within 24 hours. The pilot would last for an indefinite period of time, to let California learn about what it might take to write final rules for self driving taxis.

PUCs commissioners are set to make their pilot project final next week in a vote, subject to changes required if industry creates compelling reasons.

Stay tuned.

Seems more than reasonable as this is essentially a beta test and is very much unproven ground. It's not like anyone else is as close as Waymo as the moment and we really are not in a rush to get this rolled out at the moment. I can see why they are being so cautious at this early stage especially after the Uber incident.

Once the technology is established then there will be revisions to this depending on the outcome of the trials.

 

[sesevans]

Tesla settles Autopilot class action lawsuit

Owners of Tesla S and Tesla X paid additional $ 5,000 for Autopilot said it was "completely inoperable".

"They said the system was unsafe to use as it brakes unexpectedly for no reason and fails to brake when approaching large vehicles, such as trucks and buses.

On Wednesday, two U.S. consumer advocacy groups also urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate what they called Tesla’s “deceptive and misleading” use of the name Autopilot for its assisted-driving technology."

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-t...over-dangerous-autopilot-system-idUKKCN1IQ1SR

 

[sesevans]

Seems more than reasonable as this is essentially a beta test and is very much unproven ground. It's not like anyone else is as close as Waymo as the moment and we really are not in a rush to get this rolled out at the moment. I can see why they are being so cautious at this early stage especially after the Uber incident.

Once the technology is established then there will be revisions to this depending on the outcome of the trials.

Ever try to get a State to revise a policy once it is set in stone? Very difficult and better to get the balance right from the start IMO.

 

[sesevans]

I am following the developments of the first "smart city" being built "from the internet up"--namely, the Toronto Eastern Waterfront. Self driving cars will be a part of the solution.

BBC casts a critical eye on the intentions of Sidewalk Labs towards accomodating some opinions in the consultation period.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41414872

 

[sesevans]

This link author argues that China will have the edge in autonomous vehicles in future due to Government backing and a regulatory climate that can easily facilitate this goal.

In China, a new self driving law could be agreed "in 24 hours"!

https://asia.businesschief.com/technology/1081/Asias-stake-in-the-self-driving-race-for-success

 

[Nasher]

Yea China doesn't really care that much about safety

 

[sesevans]

Ars discusses the Future of Transportation and believes self driving technology will change a lot more than cars. Think retail and transit.

Expect to see autonomous shuttle services in Texas this summer and vehicles for goods deliveries in Arizona soon too.

And some interesting comments too. Will this lead to more urban sprawl or can it be successfully contained and a real value added?

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2018/0...nge-a-lot-more-than-cars/?comments=1&start=80

 

[sesevans]

Following the Uber crash, some companies have been recommending the use of thermal imaging sensors in AVs for night time use.

http://www.ttnews.com/articles/fatal-uber-crash-sheds-light-use-thermal-imaging

 

[sesevans]

Baidu of China has ordered 100 self driving buses for use in controlled spaces in China, despite disengagements in their California testing being much worse than Waymo.

https://www.abacusnews.com/big-guns...ving-vehicles-will-start-july/article/2148286

 

[Nasher]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/may/29/tesla-crash-autopilot-california-police-car

I think stationary emergency vehicles are going to need better protection against AVs

 

[sesevans]

Following on with the Future of Transportation series, Ars discusses the state of play of autonomous trucks with expectation that they will be deployed in the next couple of years.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2018/0...o-save-the-industry-or-destroy-it/?comments=1

 

[sesevans]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/may/29/tesla-crash-autopilot-california-police-car

I think stationary emergency vehicles are going to need better protection against AVs

Certainly true for Tesla with its Level 2 Autopilot, far from the Level 4 by Waymo currently being tested in Arizona.

 

[sesevans]

Funny ad made by Waymo with TV personality Jimmy Kimmel and his mate Guillermo, showing members of the public how easy it will be to ride in a Waymo vehicle. Clearly the commercial launch in Phoenix is near. Enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6twRCBtd-g

 

[sesevans]

Uber CEO: talking to Waymo about having Waymo place its autonomous vehicles into Uber's network

I predicted this some months ago as Uber's reputation with self driving car testing is in shatters following its Tempe, Arizona fatality. Uber CEO was speaking at a conference this week and mentioned it as a possible scenario.

I recall that when Waymo entered a similar deal with Lyft, it made the arrangement non-exclusive so that a possible deal with Uber could also happen. As the link mentions, it is surprising that this partnership could happen so soon after the Uber-Waymo lawsuit settlement but hey, that is business.

https://www.cnet.com/news/uber-talking-driverless-car-partnership-with-waymo/

 

[sesevans]

Softbank Japan invests in General Motors self driving car vehicle, Cruise Automation

Puts a valuation on self driving car ventures by a sophisticated investor.

https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/31/gms-cruise-gets-2-25b-from-softbanks-vision-fund-1-1b-from-gm/

 

[sesevans]

Two interesting parts to the deal announced today between Waymo and Fiat Chrysler in which Waymo has ordered 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid mini-vans, a huge order for its fleet of self driving vehicles. This is in addition to the thousands ordered earlier this year from Chrysler.

One very interesting piece from the announcement: Waymo is in discussion with Fiat Chrysler about selling cars to the public which feature its self driving technology. It is proposed that Waymo would license the technology to Fiat Chrysler and other OEMs who would sell these self driving vehicles in OEM showrooms. Waymo would not be directly involved with the sale.