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rickford66

(6,126 posts)

50. I've been writing similar s/w for a dozen years or so.

Sat Mar 24, 2018, 10:00 AM

Mar 2018

I have to move entities in a 3D world which among other tasks have to avoid objects. Even though there's a limited number of inputs, the combination of these are effectively infinite. No way I can anticipate every situation and discrepancies are uncovered. They get fixed and hopefully it's infinity minus one. This is for military training and no one gets killed. And the code gets more complicated as time goes on making it more difficult to fix problems or make necessary updates. On another note, there should be more emphasis on mass transit as opposed to more cars on the road.

PS. A little known fact. Software engineers are not perfect. Unlimited testing doesn't find all the problems. Computers still do what they are programmed to do.

I'm retired now and am not under the pressure to expediently correct problems. I don't envy the driver less car engineers, especially after they have to debug and find a solution to a deadly bug which will have to be updated in maybe thousands of cars built by several manufacturers. I know there are amazing advances in design techniques and hardware so I'm sure it will be as safe or safer than cars with drivers, but there will still be a good number of fatal accidents.

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Please help me understand something about self-driving cars [View all] Ferrets are Cool Mar 2018 OP

I don't understand the point of it. madaboutharry Mar 2018 #1

Because "we" aren't relevant. People who want to cut cost on drivers are. JHB Mar 2018 #2

It opens up access to people with disabilities ProudLib72 Mar 2018 #3

Ding, Ding, Ding You are the winner!nt USALiberal Mar 2018 #8

what's wrong with taxis, buses, lyft, etc.? nt TheFrenchRazor Mar 2018 #37

Nothing, but then, why should anyone have his own car? JustABozoOnThisBus Mar 2018 #40

I'm going to guess... jberryhill Mar 2018 #4

I think of my elderly parents who don't feel confident driving anymore femmedem Mar 2018 #5

This may be a little exaggerated, but maybe not, too DFW Mar 2018 #6

You can't and should not stop technological advancement........ USALiberal Mar 2018 #7

Why would we want combines to harvest our wheat? Major Nikon Mar 2018 #9

That was a decision based on cost. Igel Mar 2018 #11

This decision would be the same FBaggins Mar 2018 #26

The point is productivity is only going to go in one direction Major Nikon Mar 2018 #28

So. Blue_true Mar 2018 #48

Because 1.3 million people are killed Codeine Mar 2018 #10

They're not safer yet. n/t pnwmom Mar 2018 #13

They will be, by a large margin. nt Blue_true Mar 2018 #49

Reduction of road rage incidents cagefreesoylentgreen Mar 2018 #46

I have to disagree with you there. I think it will make things worse. Coventina Mar 2018 #55

Thats fair cagefreesoylentgreen Mar 2018 #58

I am dreading the coming day when I have to take my parents' car from them. TomSlick Mar 2018 #12

I was lucky. My mother made one serious driving mistake, sometime in her mid seventies, pnwmom Mar 2018 #15

You were VERY lucky. TomSlick Mar 2018 #18

Ten years earlier, my mother had gotten hurt in an accident pnwmom Mar 2018 #22

Hard lesson well learned. TomSlick Mar 2018 #24

One issue that older people have is they think they need a car to get to doctor's appointments. pnwmom Mar 2018 #25

Great, unless you live in a small town with no Uber drivers. TomSlick Mar 2018 #27

You're right, of course. Self-driving cars will be especially important in rural areas pnwmom Mar 2018 #29

Buggy Whips Union 101 local, represent! n/t X_Digger Mar 2018 #14

Thanks so much for adding significantly to this discussion. Ferrets are Cool Mar 2018 #61

It'd be like kicking a puppy, when so many have already said it so well. X_Digger Mar 2018 #63

Safety, limit environmental impact, freedom of mobility... nt NCTraveler Mar 2018 #16

Two out of three ain't bad FrodosNewPet Mar 2018 #32

You didnt negate my points. Nt NCTraveler Mar 2018 #39

Well, in theory if people stop buying and owning cars in large numbers and are told 'you WILL share mr_lebowski Mar 2018 #56

I don't see why we use computers to communicate when we have perfectly good postal workers mahatmakanejeeves Mar 2018 #17

When is the last time someone died because their computer crashed into another Ferrets are Cool Mar 2018 #62

For the same reasons we want other technology gains mythology Mar 2018 #19

I would buy one tomorrow if.... Kilgore Mar 2018 #20

Self-driving cars are needed to fire hundreds of thousands of professional drivers. Doodley Mar 2018 #21

Tell us the last time you demanded to have a operator place your phone call... brooklynite Mar 2018 #23

Or an elevator operator. NT Adrahil Mar 2018 #34

Driving down the road is only a first step. rickford66 Mar 2018 #30

So many benefits eventually. Cars that talk to each other, space themselves out evenly. lostnfound Mar 2018 #44

I've been writing similar s/w for a dozen years or so. rickford66 Mar 2018 #50

This is why we need UBI. Because progress is painful but inevitable... Locut0s Mar 2018 #31

I'm with you. Pope George Ringo II Mar 2018 #53

Death to car culture. I don't care who or what is driving. hunter Mar 2018 #33

Good luck with that.... Adrahil Mar 2018 #35

yes! loyalsister Mar 2018 #36

They could be of vital importance for people with disabilities that prevent them from driving LeftishBrit Mar 2018 #38

most normal average Americans will grow older, lose their ability to see well enough to drive, DrDan Mar 2018 #41

"If I had asked the people what they wanted, they would have told me faster horses." EffieBlack Mar 2018 #42

They are as safe as our paper free electronic eections! McCamy Taylor Mar 2018 #43

Safety spinbaby Mar 2018 #45

Utility, freedom from mistakes, available on demand. Blue_true Mar 2018 #47

like who the hell would ride in them? samnsara Mar 2018 #51

Did they find the car guilty in the recent accident... Historic NY Mar 2018 #52

I own four vehicles, three are vintage SonofDonald Mar 2018 #54

We way overestimate the ability of technology to do human things. MineralMan Mar 2018 #57

Like most advances in technology treestar Mar 2018 #59

I think the real appeal to some people... forgotmylogin Mar 2018 #60