Self-driving test cars with remote control backup could hit California roads in April
If approved, new Californian regulations could allow companies like Apple to test their self-driving platforms with remote backup, instead of putting a human behind the wheel.
The regulations are likely to be approved Feb. 26, and take effect after a month-long public notice period, Reuters reported on Friday. During that wait, companies wanting to take advantage would be able to submit applications.
In theory, a single remote operator could oversee several self-driving cars. That might make things much more cost-efficient for both small startups and large corporations, since companies would no longer have to divert engineers or other staff for ride-alongs.
The head of one startup, Zoox's Tim Kentley-Klay, noted that when self-driving vehicles become standard with ridehailing services, those companies will have to have some sort of remote control system in place anyway -- whether to help customers or deal with technical problems.
Apple currently has at least 27 self-driving Lexus testbeds on California roads. That still puts it behind some rivals, such as Alphabet's Waymo, which has hundreds of vehicles in several states and is racing towards the goal of a commercial launch.
In fact Apple's ambitions in the autonomous space are still unclear. The company was at one point considering making its own electric car, but it has since refocused the project to develop a platform. It may be aiming at the ridehailing market, likely in partnership with one or more outside businesses.
The regulations are likely to be approved Feb. 26, and take effect after a month-long public notice period, Reuters reported on Friday. During that wait, companies wanting to take advantage would be able to submit applications.
In theory, a single remote operator could oversee several self-driving cars. That might make things much more cost-efficient for both small startups and large corporations, since companies would no longer have to divert engineers or other staff for ride-alongs.
The head of one startup, Zoox's Tim Kentley-Klay, noted that when self-driving vehicles become standard with ridehailing services, those companies will have to have some sort of remote control system in place anyway -- whether to help customers or deal with technical problems.
Apple currently has at least 27 self-driving Lexus testbeds on California roads. That still puts it behind some rivals, such as Alphabet's Waymo, which has hundreds of vehicles in several states and is racing towards the goal of a commercial launch.
In fact Apple's ambitions in the autonomous space are still unclear. The company was at one point considering making its own electric car, but it has since refocused the project to develop a platform. It may be aiming at the ridehailing market, likely in partnership with one or more outside businesses.
Comments
Everyone seems to have jumped on the autonomous vehicle idea way to soon...
There has been talk of unleashing them, and then just having humans intervene when they get stuck in some situation. But, level heads aren't really thinking this stuff through. It's being rammed into action, no matter the consequences. Safety probably isn't the primary concern in regards to remote control in this case.
Maybe for a Tesla... but I think previous articles about hacking vehicles are pretty much BS. But, yes, we're rushing way to fast into 'automated' vehicles, based on some concepts and a lot of 'faith' instead of reality. The only thing holding it back, is the companies' fear of what happens in terms of PR with the first big accidents. Outside of that, I think all rationality has gone out the window.
I think it needs to be watched again.
No, CA is simply leading.
... For example, a person who normally parks at the far end of the parking lot to protect the car from nicks and to get exercise decides to drive around the lot looking for the closest spot because its cold outside and they forgot a jacket....
Some form of human control is required...
If that control is remote, then it is possible to hack it and drive the car off a cliff rather than find the closest parking spot. So, if anybody is going to be remotely controlling a car that I'm in, I would want it to be Apple. Would anybody trust Microsoft or Google?
While I trust Apple (currently) more in terms of data privacy, I don't trust any of them in regard to AI, because the proponents aren't even thinking correctly about it. They are living in a sci-fi dream-world.... and IMO, not really thinking of the downsides as much as the potential upsides and $$$.
And when computers are given human rights, some of the damages will have to be given to the car that was hit for medical expenses (body restoration) or a funeral (cubificaiton at a junkyard).
Don’t laugh. I’m not joking. There are people trying to grant human rights to AI. Meaning restrictions on workdays. And voting rights.
But, Uber has been running a fleet of self driving cars in Pittsburgh throughout the winter. Admittedly, there isn't a lot of reporting being done on them so I don't know how well they did through the rather nasty winter we've had -- but I haven't heard of any failures. But, in any case, they are being tested and used in hostile, winter weather conditions.
No in fact none of them are good points. LIDAR sees through snow and ice and can be tuned to various weather related phenomena. As for your laziness and upkeep of your automobile... I can’t say... I’d think if you paid 80k for a Cadillac CTS that you’d clean snow off it... Tesla is one to worry about Elon won’t use lidar and it’s a problem