Tesla rear-ends a stationary Fire Engine with its lights flashing at 65mph

[sokoloff]

A plane autopilot will happily and diligently fly you into that object if you ask it to.

Planes/autopilot usually have a front radar giving the pilot a suggestion a solid object is in your flight path and that you do something about it. But its the argument firetruck + aeroplane = crash with solid stationary object, whats wrong.

Forward radar in civilian airplanes is for weather, not for object/obstacle avoidance. It's true that it will pickup returns from the Earth (and that's how you set/verify the tilt for your current flight regime), but that's not useful for terrain avoidance and is completely useless for other obstacle/airplane avoidance.

Source: I'm a pilot and have weather radar in one of my airplanes.

[timb]

Also there is a zone speed limit thing in China, which is a total bitch. They set a camera on each entrance, and a camera on each exit. They capture every car passing them, and log the license plate. They then calculate a minimum time for each entrance-exit combination based on distance and speed limit. If you pass the passage before the minimum time, you get a ticket. There's no way to dodge speed radar or anything because the cameras are 100% triggered.

They do something even worse where I’m at in the US (Virginia): They monitor your speed via aircraft! On the interstate, you’ll occasionally see white lines painted across the road. The purpose of them is so a spotter in a small plane circling overhead can time you to determine your speed (if it takes you less than X seconds to pass two white lines, you’re going above the speed limit). The plane then radios the details of your vehicle to a cruiser that’s ahead of you, who then pulls you over.

Think about how insane that is.

We’re one of the few states left that prefer LIDAR instead of radar as well (which is one of the reasons VA requires ugly front license plates, so there will be a flat, reflective target for the laser).

[timb]

They do something even worse where I’m at in the US (Virginia): They monitor your speed via aircraft!

We’re one of the few states left that prefer LIDAR instead of radar as well.

Two signs right after VA state line on I95:
Speed limit enforced by aircraft
Use of radar detector is illegal

That being said, I see people having no problems driving at 85mph+, and some even at 90+.
A few days ago I was driving at 80, and a cop approached me from behind. At that moment I though I'was in trouble, which was totally incorrect.
The cop passed me at 85+ and just pretended I wasn't there. Thank you.

Just be aware that driving over 80mph (*or* 20mph over the speed limit) *anywhere* in VA will automatically net you a ticket for reckless driving. You got lucky that cop either had another target or was on a call.

[ez24]

Yep. I never exceed 80, usually I keep at 78~79.

Be sure to do that when you go under the 11' 8" bridge.  It will really be great if you do it in a rental truck.  I wonder if you can start a Kickstarter to pay for the truck?  I am sure it would get millions of views     (hope you do not get hurt).
When are you going?  Thanks

[orion242]

Yes, like watching a porno on the cars entertainment system and masturbating with right hand while opening a can of cola with left hand! I do the same here but only on outback roads!

LMAO!!!  And this is why these need to be 100% accurate, 100% of the time or its just a train wreak in slow motion.

[vk6zgo]

Also there is a zone speed limit thing in China, which is a total bitch. They set a camera on each entrance, and a camera on each exit. They capture every car passing them, and log the license plate. They then calculate a minimum time for each entrance-exit combination based on distance and speed limit. If you pass the passage before the minimum time, you get a ticket. There's no way to dodge speed radar or anything because the cameras are 100% triggered.

They do something even worse where I’m at in the US (Virginia): They monitor your speed via aircraft! On the interstate, you’ll occasionally see white lines painted across the road. The purpose of them is so a spotter in a small plane circling overhead can time you to determine your speed (if it takes you less than X seconds to pass two white lines, you’re going above the speed limit). The plane then radios the details of your vehicle to a cruiser that’s ahead of you, who then pulls you over.

Think about how insane that is.

We’re one of the few states left that prefer LIDAR instead of radar as well (which is one of the reasons VA requires ugly front license plates, so there will be a flat, reflective target for the laser).

They used to do the aircraft thing in Western Australia, & had warning signs to make this known.
On one, some joker had graffitied "Pigs in Space!".

Another sign which is still common is the one which says " Local Police are now targeting ........",
with various motoring sins replacing the dotted line.

A somewhat more sophisticated pranker had modified one to say:-
" Local Police are now targeting Volvo drivers."

[HalFET]

You cant fix stupid. I see people reading books while driving, others have no idea how to to drive a car.
90% of my coworkers dont know how much following distance you need. 1 out of 10 actually said, it depends on the speed. Congrats to her, best answer. I see people going into situations where there is obviously no way of coming out, if there is something unexpected on the road. Like another car. That's OK, you can always just slam on the breaks and crash into everything slow.
Honesly, I think level 2 autonomus driving is just not safe. Level 1 is fine, also 3. But 2? You can release everything, but still need to pay attention. I dont think humans work that way. You cannot blame the autopilot, you were driving.

millennials the generation that think's technology will do everything for them,    including drive the car. and maybe wipe there butt too!

The Japanese already perfect the latter, and a fine invention it is!

[IanMacdonald]

Interestingly a driving instructor also has to be sober. You cannot let a learner drive you home from the pub. I guess that sets a precedent for the autopilot case.

[timb]

You cant fix stupid. I see people reading books while driving, others have no idea how to to drive a car.
90% of my coworkers dont know how much following distance you need. 1 out of 10 actually said, it depends on the speed. Congrats to her, best answer. I see people going into situations where there is obviously no way of coming out, if there is something unexpected on the road. Like another car. That's OK, you can always just slam on the breaks and crash into everything slow.
Honesly, I think level 2 autonomus driving is just not safe. Level 1 is fine, also 3. But 2? You can release everything, but still need to pay attention. I dont think humans work that way. You cannot blame the autopilot, you were driving.

millennials the generation that think's technology will do everything for them,    including drive the car. and maybe wipe there butt too!

The Japanese already perfect the latter, and a fine invention it is!

And the automated masturbating machine used by Chinese sperm banks.

Reading this, the gears in my technical mind instantly started turning, trying to come up with how an autonomous masturbation machine would be constructed.

It only took a few seconds to come up with a design. I’m picturing an armature connected to an off balanced rotating disk (like an oil well). Attached to the end of the armature is a Fleshlight(TM).

The Fleshlight(TM) would have a small hole drilled in the top, into which a small tube would be inserted. The tube would be attached to a small vacuum pump, allowing additional negative pressure to be created for the user’s pleasure (in addition to extracting the final deposit). You could even back feed a liquid through it so it would be self cleaning!

Hmmm... Patent, here I come. (No pun intended.)

[paulca]

And the automated masturbating machine used by Chinese sperm banks.

I seen that video too.

[james_s]

Reminds me of an article I saw probably 20 years ago. Apparently "teledildonics" is an actual thing. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by this.

[paulca]

Reminds me of an article I saw probably 20 years ago. Apparently "teledildonics" is an actual thing. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by this.

Whatever you do, don't ask how I know this.
http://www.lovelifetoys.com/OhMiBod-Brand

Have we suitably derailed the thread for a Friday evening or so we need to try harder?   

[james_s]

Huhuh you said "harder"

 

[paulca]

Tools for that enclosure?


(I'll get my coat.)

[ez24]

I think there is another post about a DUI.  According to my local paper, (that quotes the Wash Post) this is the same story.  The driver was twice the legal limit and had "tenuous relationship with consciousness" when the car hit the truck.  Nothing about speed.  The driver said he wasn't driving, the car was.  The driver was arrested, the article did not say if the car was arrested.

Does the Tesla use any fluids?  If so maybe there was alcohol in the fluids and the car was driving under the influence?
Can you have a beer with your T? 

Drunk cars - whats next.  Right now I see a white one parked across the street.  It is not rocking.

If the engineer who wrote the software was under the influence - does this make the car become under the influence?

[Avacee]

Appears to be a known "feature" that Tesla's (and Volvo's) don't recognise a stationary object directly ahead if the vehicle in front changes lane. Which appears to be what happened when a large pick-up truck changed lanes to avoid the fire-truck.
https://www.wired.com/story/tesla-autopilot-why-crash-radar/
https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-s-firetruck-crash-details/

As stated in Tesla's owners manual (page 77):
“Traffic-Aware Cruise Control cannot detect all objects and may not brake/decelerate for stationary vehicles, especially in situations when you are driving over 50 mph (80 km/h) and a vehicle you are following moves out of your driving path and a stationary vehicle or object is in front of you instead.”
https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/model_s_owners_manual_north_america_en_us.pdf

[MT]

Source: I'm a pilot and have weather radar in one of my airplanes.

Thats why telsa autopilot and front radar is crap, should be able to see flying firetruck besides
Cessna pilots like yourself are not licensed to fly 747 nor can afford one.

The famous phrase:  Pull up...Pullup.. should have been...Pull over.... Pull over... in Tesla autopilot system!

[tggzzz]

Appears to be a known "feature" that Tesla's (and Volvo's) don't recognise a stationary object directly ahead if the vehicle in front changes lane. Which appears to be what happened when a large pick-up truck changed lanes to avoid the fire-truck.
https://www.wired.com/story/tesla-autopilot-why-crash-radar/
https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-s-firetruck-crash-details/

As stated in Tesla's owners manual (page 77):
“Traffic-Aware Cruise Control cannot detect all objects and may not brake/decelerate for stationary vehicles, especially in situations when you are driving over 50 mph (80 km/h) and a vehicle you are following moves out of your driving path and a stationary vehicle or object is in front of you instead.”
https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/model_s_owners_manual_north_america_en_us.pdf

And this is just the  beginning. Over time evolution will ensure that there as many gotcha's in the autopilot specification as there are in the C & C++ language specifications.

Language lawyers (will) love all three.

[MT]

I just heard that Teslas autopilot system was developed with ST HAL.....

[Nusa]

Source: I'm a pilot and have weather radar in one of my airplanes.

Thats why telsa autopilot and front radar is crap, should be able to see flying firetruck besides
Cessna pilots like yourself are not licensed to fly 747 nor can afford one.

The famous phrase:  Pull up...Pullup.. should have been...Pull over.... Pull over... in Tesla autopilot system!

Assuming facts not in evidence. He never said he had a Cessna, only that he had multiple planes. And considering an old but flyable 747 can be had for as little as $10 million these days, I wouldn't automatically assume it's out of his reach either. Operating and maintenance costs will add up fast, however.

[MT]

Assuming facts not in evidence. He never said he had a Cessna, only that he had multiple planes. And considering an old but flyable 747 can be had for as little as $10 million these days, I wouldn't automatically assume it's out of his reach either. Operating and maintenance costs will add up fast, however.

People are argumentative today i see, your getting hooked on the wrong issues here. It's about Tesla marketing ideas
not correlating with Tesla engineering.

[helius]

An private individual flying a 500-ton plane would be uninsurable.

[Nusa]

An private individual flying a 500-ton plane would be uninsurable.

Explain Trump's personal 757 then (he used it up until the inauguration, anyway). If you can afford to buy, maintain, operate, and pay for training and qualified crews, you can afford to insure it.

[helius]

You look to have a particular talent for obfuscation and misdirection. A 757 is not a 500 ton airplane, and no one has ever asserted that it is flown by its major shareholder. He does not own the plane as a private individual: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=757AF
So your response contained not a single relevant word.

[ez24]

Source: I'm a pilot and have weather radar in one of my airplanes.

People you are getting planes mixed up.  sokoloff is not flying a 757.  He is flying a 747