Audi intends to incorporate autonomous / computer piloted driving systems into cars roughly by 2016, starting with self-driving in traffic - Brilliant or scary?

[Sticky]

Technology marches on and for the most part it makes life easier. That is Audi's goal with their announcement that they will begin to show completely autonomous driving of their vehicles at the Consumer Electronics Expo in Las Vegas. Audi believes these systems could make production by 2016 although an exact date is not set (roughly sometime in the next decade). That begs the question, how many of you are comfortable handing complete control of your vehicle to a computer?

Part of the idea is that when in heavy traffic the computer would take over. So one could in theory focus on something more productive, even getting work done. How far awary are we from seeing people in the drivers seat with their laptops open instead of focusing on the road? The argument could be made that computers take over for pilots on planes so this can work. However, if someone were to modify the software or even over wireless connections take over the computer it could lead to chaos.

The system is based around LIDAR (laser) and cameras. If the system were to be active and the laser beam was to be disrupted, modified, or impeded it could alter where the computer thinks other cars are.

Audi's system is currently limited to 37 miles per hour and high traffic situations. The 2016 Audi A8 would be potentially the first vehicle to be available with it.

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[leo985i]

That's scary. Why? Because governments are scary! And if they think systems like this will prevent deaths, then we will see legal paternalism bull$#@!. Not looking forward for the liberals to start demanding this $#@! be mandatory for every vehicle. We might be a long way from that still, but the technology will advance, until we reach that point....

[Sticky]

That's scary. Why? Because governments are scary! And if they think systems like this will prevent deaths, then we will see legal paternalism bull$#@!. Not looking forward for the liberals to start demanding this $#@! be mandatory for every vehicle. We might be a long way from that still, but the technology will advance, until we reach that point....

I'm afraid they will take it so far as making the computer drive mandatory under the guise of preventing drunk driving or speeding. It will eventually get there and driving for fun or when you are in control of the car will be relegated solely to race tracks.

[M3_WC]

It would be nice to just sit and relax, let the car drive those insane 405 traffic jams.

[E90Company]

Dumb.

[leo985i]

I'm afraid they will take it so far as making the computer drive mandatory under the guise of preventing drunk driving or speeding. It will eventually get there and driving for fun or when you are in control of the car will be relegated solely to race tracks.

Yeah, this is exactly what I'm afraid will happen.

[Sticky]

It would be nice to just sit and relax, let the car drive those insane 405 traffic jams.

If it stopped there I would be fine with it. But it won't.

[FLYING X5]

No point in driving a car anymore, takes all the fun out of it... I drive for fun, but if a car is driving me, I feel like there's no point, like i'm sitting in a taxi, an overpriced taxi...

[DavidV]

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