Pay extra if you don´t want your self-driving Volvo to plow into pedestrians

[bryant.coleman]

They're saying they won't be ready for the general population until 2020-2030. The issue is even if the car is safe, other drivers aren't.

Any idea about the cost (I mean capital cost + annual maintenance) ? If the system costs much more per year than the cost of hiring a human driver, then I don't think that too many people might be interested in it. Also, any attempt like this one is likely to attract protests from the drivers union.  And yes.. right now it might be too early to ask about the operating expenses.

[galdur]

It´s much more complex than just driving around. For example the robot will have to evaluate whom to injure or kill in certain situations and whom to save. Some accidents are simply unavoidable. There´s always some unfortunate set of events to contend with. If you´re cruising along in your self-driving car and suddenly the car can´t stop in time to save some people crossing the road but it can drive into a wall, saving them but with uncertain consequences for you. What should it do? If it´s programmed to kill one to save two or more, would you really buy it?

[larem]

They're saying they won't be ready for the general population until 2020-2030. The issue is even if the car is safe, other drivers aren't.

Any idea about the cost (I mean capital cost + annual maintenance) ? If the system costs much more per year than the cost of hiring a human driver, then I don't think that too many people might be interested in it. Also, any attempt like this one is likely to attract protests from the drivers union.  And yes.. right now it might be too early to ask about the operating expenses.

They make it seem like it's no different than a regular car in terms of maintenance. The Teslas got an update that makes them pseudo-autonomous now, as a step towards the future.

[gentlemand]

It's going to be very interesting to see if they ever manage to get these things ticking around our roads. I think legality and the natural human aversion to ceding control is going to throw a spanner in the works. I do like the concept but making it workable will be a hella task.

[larem]

It's going to be very interesting to see if they ever manage to get these things ticking around our roads. I think legality and the natural human aversion to ceding control is going to throw a spanner in the works. I do like the concept but making it workable will be a hella task.

While humans are against change, they are also lazy. I really don't see the fear factor being too much of a hindrance, tbh.