Courtesy of Mish.
Myth: Self driving vehicles will not work well in rain or snow.
Reality: Vehicles operate perfectly well in snow.
Some of my readers fabricate stories about why driverless cars will not work. Others make claims that are easily disputed by a simple check.
Let’s take a look at some reader comments and my replies. I do so in form of an article because it it tiring to reply to the same kinds of arguments over and over again in comments to posts.
Let’s also take a look beyond the 2022-2024 time frame. Issues like insurance, batteries, gasoline, and even car ownership come into play. How soon?
Myth and Fantasy Scenarios
In response to Ford Targets 2021 for Mass-Market Self-Driving Car: 2021 a Near Certainty, reader “alexaisback” commented …
Mish is again mishing many points. I have corrected him before I will do so again briefly.
A. As of this date regardless of manufacturer, No vehicle can drive in heavy rain or snow. None. Zero. And NONE have any idea how to do so, in fact few if any have attempted it.
B. In order to do so, in the future, the roadway and highway will require multiple signs and demarcations, in order for the computer to orient itself. Significant investment would have to be made in roads.
This in and of itself will require enormous government subsidy ( State Fed and Local)
something the ” trucking ” industry simply does not have the political weight for.
What the Trucking Unions will roll over and allow the Fed Gov to subsidy them out of business ?C. The moral programming will hit a brick wall.
What happens when the computer determines:
An accident is about to happen – A school bus is coming at me –
i. If I turn right to avoid the accident and onto the sidewalk I kill a pedestrian.
ii. If I turn left to avoid the accident I kill a bicycle rider.
No One has determined how to program for morality.
Reality
Dateline January 11, 2016: Wired reports The Clever Way Ford’s Self-Driving Cars Navigate in Snow.
