When I read the news items and watch the video on this terrible event of an Uber self-driving car hitting and killing a person, it pains me that at first reports that Uber or the driver was possibly not at fault. The statement that the person appeared out of the dark and the collision may not have possibly been avoided is unbelievable.
The person had walked three quarters across a two lane road when they were hit. When the person became visible they were already across the first lane and into the second lane of the car on a two lane highway.
Even if we accept that a person may not have seen the person in time, since they only had about a second to respond, which is not sufficient for a human driver, you would think a self-driving car has a number of advantages over a human.
Firstly you would think they would use sensors to detect what is ahead. If the sensors don't then something isn't right. Perhaps an infra-red sensor is needed to detect heat signatures of moving objects. In Australia a kangaroo often jumps out from the side of the road with a moments notice. If a person who has already crossed one lane and is into the second lane of a two lane highway is not detected, we'd have no hope with kangaroos and possibly other wildlife.
It is truly sad when we place such technology onto our roads for something like this to occur. The self-driving car industry needs to be held accountable. I think even the average man can see this isn't good enough. It isn't a matter of whether or person could have done better, it really should be the technology in the car far exceeds the capability of humans as sensors are available that we as humans are not endowed with.
It does may me wonder whether or not those in government are making sure appropriate levels of technology are being incorporated into cars to ensure we are safe in what is a fairly likely accident situation that we as humans may not be able to avoid, but technology should be able to easily avoid.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
IT support.
PS. I'm reluctant to post a link to the news article containing the video, but it's the only way people will know the situation around the event. Otherwise we just guess as I did the person stepped out in front of the car, perhaps next to the car, with no warning or possibility of anticipating such an accident. (https://www.recode.net/2018/3/21/17149428/uber-self-driving-fatal-accident-video-tempe-arizona) Please don't watch this video if seeing the video of a car about to hit a person will affect you in any way. It is something I'd rather not watched which I can't take back. My desire to understand the technology and the limitations of the technology, so I can advise and guide others, and use it myself, made it hard for me not to seek out further information.
The person had walked three quarters across a two lane road when they were hit. When the person became visible they were already across the first lane and into the second lane of the car on a two lane highway.
Even if we accept that a person may not have seen the person in time, since they only had about a second to respond, which is not sufficient for a human driver, you would think a self-driving car has a number of advantages over a human.
Firstly you would think they would use sensors to detect what is ahead. If the sensors don't then something isn't right. Perhaps an infra-red sensor is needed to detect heat signatures of moving objects. In Australia a kangaroo often jumps out from the side of the road with a moments notice. If a person who has already crossed one lane and is into the second lane of a two lane highway is not detected, we'd have no hope with kangaroos and possibly other wildlife.
It is truly sad when we place such technology onto our roads for something like this to occur. The self-driving car industry needs to be held accountable. I think even the average man can see this isn't good enough. It isn't a matter of whether or person could have done better, it really should be the technology in the car far exceeds the capability of humans as sensors are available that we as humans are not endowed with.
It does may me wonder whether or not those in government are making sure appropriate levels of technology are being incorporated into cars to ensure we are safe in what is a fairly likely accident situation that we as humans may not be able to avoid, but technology should be able to easily avoid.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
IT support.
PS. I'm reluctant to post a link to the news article containing the video, but it's the only way people will know the situation around the event. Otherwise we just guess as I did the person stepped out in front of the car, perhaps next to the car, with no warning or possibility of anticipating such an accident. (https://www.recode.net/2018/3/21/17149428/uber-self-driving-fatal-accident-video-tempe-arizona) Please don't watch this video if seeing the video of a car about to hit a person will affect you in any way. It is something I'd rather not watched which I can't take back. My desire to understand the technology and the limitations of the technology, so I can advise and guide others, and use it myself, made it hard for me not to seek out further information.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.