The Tesla cars constantly upload data back to the company.

When I heard that news report I could not believe that anyone was silly or maybe trusting enough to travel in a car without having the opportunity to have the final control.
My following thoughts were that this technology which at this time has had many failures is being inflicted on innocent members of the community both as people in the cars, people in other cars and nearby pedestrians.

Not for me I am afraid..

I can see a use for a technology that assists the driver. For example, how many times have we failed to see a cyclist or motorcyclist or pedestrian? In such cases the car's computer could override the driver and avoid a fatal accident.

Mike Harding wrote:

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dorian wrote:

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I can see a use for a technology that assists the driver. For example, how many times have we failed to see a cyclist or motorcyclist or pedestrian? In such cases the car's computer could override the driver and avoid a fatal accident.

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You mean something like the software in the Boeing 737 Max 8?

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If the computer applies the brakes, then it's unlikely to cause a problem. If it swerves to avoid the other party, then you're in the hands of the programmer.

In any case, I recall a couple of air disasters, or near disasters, that occurred when the pilots ignored the computer or switched off the autopilot.

BTW, modern airplanes are able to land on their own, even with a dead pilot in the ****pit.

AISI, it's a case of balancing risks and benefits. I personally wouldn't want my car doing the driving, but my younger, more reckless self may have benefited from it.

 

Edit:

What if we were to reach a point where we become so frail that we no longer qualify for a driving licence?  Could driverless cars be the solution for us?

 

-- Edited by dorian on Wednesday 21st of April 2021 07:21:45 AM

This has become an issue in the US with Tesla's to the point where the towies don't like them as they have been known to ignite on the back of a tilt tray taking out the truck with them. This not the first Tesla to ignite following a crash. Motorsport is having to develop a whole new approach to dealing with EV's due to this problem with batteries igniting following a prang. It's a brave new world out there. As far as technology goes, there is no way known that I want a computer taking over any aspect of the driving for me. Many pilots do not like the Airbus for the reason that the computer flies the plane. The pilot makes requests of the computer. This means that in the event of an emergency, if the pilot requests a manoeuvre that the computer doesn't like it won't do it. There have been a couple of crashes of Airbus's that have been assessed as might have been avoided if the pilot had complete control. Boeing are obviously going that way too with the Max 8. We can see how successful that was. People think that computers are marvellous and in many ways they are, but they are very much an imperfect science that are a very handy tool but should never be placed in a position of making life or death decisions.

peter67 wrote:

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Anyway back to the battery fire. A lot of energy hidden inside a vehicle and almost impossible to extinguish...very unsafe for anyone trapped in the car, or near the accident, and after hours (lots of smoke and pollution, major traffic jams)and it apparently burns itself out, what if it reignites on the tow truck? or in the insurance companies write off strorage building?

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 Same energy in the fuel tank of every car and the result is similar if it catches fire (which they often do), but that does not make the headlines like something new.

Cheers,

Peter

I saw that crash on the news. The coppers said that it was illegal for the car to be used without a human being the responsible driver. I think it's the same in Australia. I certainly wouldn't trust an autonomous car to drive me unsupervised. 

 

I guess that those two who died were breaking the law. Another couple of idiots off the road to make it safer for the rest of us. 

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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peter67 wrote:

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Anyway back to the battery fire. A lot of energy hidden inside a vehicle and almost impossible to extinguish...very unsafe for anyone trapped in the car, or near the accident, and after hours (lots of smoke and pollution, major traffic jams)and it apparently burns itself out, what if it reignites on the tow truck? or in the insurance companies write off strorage building?

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 Same energy in the fuel tank of every car and the result is similar if it catches fire (which they often do), but that does not make the headlines like something new.

Cheers,

Peter

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 You may be right Pete, but the petrol is now outside the vehicle where it is easily dealt with by emergency people, perhaps even other drivers with fire extinguishers.

ps I wonder what happens during the initial period of melt down and circuits start shorting giving the vehicle all sorts of commands eg "time to floor it" or lock the doors maybe, who knows? and if it burns for hours that area will be up for some serious road repairs.

peter67 wrote:

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Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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peter67 wrote:

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Anyway back to the battery fire. A lot of energy hidden inside a vehicle and almost impossible to extinguish...very unsafe for anyone trapped in the car, or near the accident, and after hours (lots of smoke and pollution, major traffic jams)and it apparently burns itself out, what if it reignites on the tow truck? or in the insurance companies write off strorage building?

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 Same energy in the fuel tank of every car and the result is similar if it catches fire (which they often do), but that does not make the headlines like something new.

Cheers,

Peter

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 You may be right Pete, but the petrol is now outside the vehicle where it is easily dealt with by emergency people, perhaps even other drivers with fire extinguishers.

ps I wonder what happens during the initial period of melt down and circuits start shorting giving the vehicle all sorts of commands eg "time to floor it" or lock the doors maybe, who knows? and if it burns for hours that area will be up for some serious road repairs.

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 Possibly the command.....'show driver error" is imprinted in the ecu and all other info wiped....absolving the car of any malfunction!!!....or am I just cynical?

 

Electric cars are one thing and we all may argue for and against if we want, but to try to build a car that will drive itself without the final decision of human input is, at least for the present moment, just downright stupidity.

As stated above, our GPS systems alone would have to improved somewhat to even have the car drive out of our driveways.

I am currently thinking of buying a new car (not a 79) and will be making serious enquiries about the installed systems of lane departure, bicycle detection, and some others as well.

Fire in any vehicle can be intense but by the reports, this one was very severe. Maybe there were other factors.

Regards

Rob

Lithium batteries are well known for their combustible nature and that is why there are heavy restrictions on the carriage of them on aircraft. Even relatively safe versions such as power tool batteries. Two maximum per person and the terminals taped. Must be carried as cabin luggage not in the hold. There are good reasons for that as Tesla's demonstrate quite regularly.

dorian wrote:

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I read one of the comments in that Washington Post story.


"The fire was put out in 2 or 3 minutes. Unfortunately the Washington post like many others use sensationalist reporting. "

"TX fire chief slams inaccurate Tesla crash coverage with firsthand details on Model S fire as quoted below:"

"With respect to the fire fight, unfortunately, those rumors grew way out of control. It did not take us four hours to put out the blaze. Our guys got there and put down the fire within two to three minutes, enough to see the vehicle had occupants. After that, it was simply cooling the car as the batteries continued to have a chain reaction due to damage."

 

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 Bloody facts!!!!   Just ruined a good thread....lol.

Dont have houston subscription mate

Craig1 wrote:

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Dont have houston subscription mate

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Neither do I.