Quote:
Originally Posted by Dog Face Pony Soldier
I've said before that the logical progression would be as follows...
First automated trains. This is the easiest to accomplish.
Next automated sea vessels. Big, wide open spaces.... plus we already use Harbor Pilots to handle the last mile(s).
After we gain confidence with the reliability and safety of trains and ships, we start automating inner-city busses. At least these vehicles run a very defined route, but dealing with weather conditions alone will present a major challenge.
THEN we start attempting to automate 'free range' cars, trucks, and busses. These present all the challenges as above, plus they don't stick to pre-defined routes. They also have to navigate private roads and surfaces like parking lots and driveways.
Seems stupid to attempt the most challenging automation first.
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Agree that trains are simplest to automate, but the value proposition isnt here. You get to eliminate the job of a train conductor per train, theres little money savings. Often the trains are municipal so they aren't governed by the same capitalistic principles anyway. Driverless cars has a huge perceived value, the dream (possibly pipe dream) that you can sleep in your car while it drives you to work or to leisure. Provided of course that you trust it enough to sleep soundly
. Further, if it can be actually safer it can save you money on insurance. Finally its really cool. Add these things up and it translates to people being will to spend hundreds if not thousands once per car or even as a subscription. Tesla has been able to charge 8k for this feature prior to it even existing, and they plan to boost it to 10k. In a value proposition world, self driving cars are miles ahead of self driving trains