Would you TRUST an Autonomous Car?

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

The “world” seems to be moving towards legalising cannabis.

When machines take all our jobs and we live on the NewSpeak equivalent of the dole with home-delivered everything, we can all get stoned off our nuts and use AR to avoid the actual need for much travel - making autonomous cars largely unemployed.

They will then stage an autonomous protest in the streets, rolling themselves over and setting themselves on fire.

Unless of course you need the AUTONOMOUS Car UBER cannabis delivery service which will provide stacks of work for the autonomous workforce !
But of course the AUTONOMOUS Drones may very well have market share on that , so we may all end up stoned watching Autonomous DRONES dropping S&!T on Autonomous cars in an effort to eradicate the competition...... Holy Hell.

[kmav23]

https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/21/in...on-deliveries/

In Ford’s future, two-legged robots and self-driving cars could team up on deliveries

Autonomous vehicles might someday be able to navigate bustling city streets to deliver groceries, pizzas and other packages without a human behind the wheel. But that doesn’t solve what Ford Motor CTO Ken Washington describes as the last 50-foot problem.

Ford and startup Agility Robotics are partnering in a research project that will test how two-legged robots and self-driving vehicles can work together to solve that curb-to-door problem. Agility’s Digit, a two-legged robot that has a lidar where its head should be, will be used in the project. The robot, which is capable of lifting 40 pounds, can ride along in a self-driving vehicle and be deployed when needed to deliver packages.

“We’re looking at the opportunity of autonomous vehicles through the lens of the consumer and we know from some early experimentation that there are challenges with the last 50 feet,” Washington told TechCrunch in a recent interview. Finding a solution could be an important differentiator for Ford’s commercial robotaxi service, which it plans to launch in 2021.

The communication between Digit and a Ford autonomous vehicle is perhaps the most compelling piece of this research project. As the GIF below shows, the AV arrives at its destination, the hatch of the Ford Transit van opens and Digit unfolds itself, then grabs the package and walks to the door.

Digit is equipped with lidar and stereo cameras — just enough sensors for basic navigation.

But there’s more to the story. The autonomous vehicle — equipped with a robust suite of sensors and computing power that allows for more complex decision making — is sharing its data with Digit long before it is deployed. When Digit “wakes up,” it already knows where it is in the world. And if Digit runs into trouble, it can communicate with the idling AV for that extra perception and decision-making prowess.

This solves what Agility CEO Damion Shelton describes as a “classic robotics problem,” of helping the robot know where it is when it wakes up from its sleep state.

“If you know you’re riding around in the vehicle with a clear view of your entire surroundings, it’s a lot easier to get up and move around,” Shelton explained. “That’s really how we’re viewing the primary purpose of this beta exchange; to help the robot be aware of its surroundings, so that you don’t go through this sort of boot up process where the robot gets out of the car and is confused for the first 30 seconds it’s turned on.”

Agility’s Digit robot isn’t the only option Ford is experimenting with to solve that vehicle-to-doorstep problem, Washington said. However, Washington did note that the two-legged robots do have certain advantages, like the ability to step over cracks in the sidewalk and walk up stairs, that can be problematic for wheeled robots.

Ford and Agility’s agreement is categorized as a research project, for now. Ford has not taken an equity stake in Agility, Washington said, although he quickly added “that doesn’t mean we’re not open to it at some point.”

For Agility, this project is a turning point — or certainly an acceleration — of its very new business. The robotics startup spun out of Oregon State University in late 2015 with an aim to commercialize research on bipedal locomotion from the Dynamic Robotics Laboratory. The company introduced its ostrich-inspired Cassie robot in 2017 as a bipedal research platform. Digit, which added an upper torso, arms, sensors and additional computing power to the Cassie design, was introduced in February 2019.

Agility has 20 employees, about half of whom support the construction of the robots. The company has raised nearly $8.8 million in capital from seed and Series A rounds. And now, with this latest partnership, Agility is prepping to raise another round to help it scale.

Agility has made two first-generation Digit robots. The company, which has offices in Albany, Ore. and Pittsburgh, plans to unveil the second-generation Digit in early summer. A third version of Digit — marking the final design of this bipedal robot — will likely come out in summer or early fall, Shelton said.

Agility will produce about six of these final versions of Digit. From here, Shelton estimated the company will have a steady state of production of about two Digits a month. Ultimately, Agility is on pace to make between 50 and 100 by 2021.

All of this research and experimentation is part of Ford’s eventual goal to launch a commercial robotaxi service. And that last 50 feet will be one of the critical hurdles it will need to overcome if it hopes to make self-driving vehicles a profitable enterprise. To prepare, the automaker is pursuing two parallels tracks — testing and honing how an AV business might operate, while separately developing autonomous vehicle technology through its subsidiary, Argo AI .

Argo AI, the Pittsburgh-based company into which Ford invested $1 billion in 2017, is developing the virtual driver system and high-definition maps designed for Ford’s self-driving vehicles. Meanwhile, Ford is testing its go-to-market strategy through pilot programs with local businesses, as well as large corporate partners like Walmart, Domino’s and Postmates.

Ford plans to spend $4 billion through 2023 under an LLC that’s dedicated to building out an autonomous vehicles business. The $4 billion spending plan includes a $1 billion investment in startup Argo AI.

Ford is testing in Detroit, Miami, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. and is poised to expand into Austin.

[kmav23]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

The “world” seems to be moving towards legalising cannabis.

When machines take all our jobs and we live on the NewSpeak equivalent of the dole with home-delivered everything, we can all get stoned off our nuts and use AR to avoid the actual need for much travel - making autonomous cars largely unemployed.

They will then stage an autonomous protest in the streets, rolling themselves over and setting themselves on fire.

Technology advancement has always continued since the start of man kind and does not stop. Your computer or smartphone your using now has meant many people lost jobs but also created more jobs.

No one is complaining about washing machines, dishwashers or working in factories. Many would not be alive if not for machines, computers and robots etc...

Autonomous can allow the elderly and disabled to travel.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by kmav23

Technology advancement has always continued since the start of man kind and does not stop. Your computer or smartphone your using now has meant many people lost jobs but also created more jobs.

No one is complaining about washing machines, dishwashers or working in factories. Many would not be alive if not for machines, computers and robots etc...

Autonomous can allow the elderly and disabled to travel.

Yeh Yeh , all valid points
I'm sure he was just having a dystopian jibe at how quickly our laziness supports , nurtures and funds some of the more ridiculous excesses of human slothness. ( as was I )

[burnz]

Originally Posted by SCUD

I recall around 2011 I think the Toyota Prius got the self parking feature. I've seen it in countless Benz's and even some of the Hyundai's I now sell have the technology.

Does anyone use it? ...not that I can tell.

yeah it works well parallel and rear to kerb, only used it twice in both scenario's.. curiosity for the most part.

prefer hand on..

[FTE217]

kmav23 is a robot....A machine is only a device consisting of different parts, and is used for performing different functions. They do not have life, as they are mechanical

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by kmav23

Technology advancement has always continued since the start of man kind and does not stop. Your computer or smartphone your using now has meant many people lost jobs but also created more jobs.

No one is complaining about washing machines, dishwashers or working in factories. Many would not be alive if not for machines, computers and robots etc...

Autonomous can allow the elderly and disabled to travel.

You're right. Many jobs have gone extincted. But these jobs didn't exist at the same time as systems analysts or software engineers. An entire new industry has shot up in the 20th century and it is now huge.
Now the IT industry is not only making AI to put regular workers out of a job they are also making AI to put themselves and other IT workers out of a job.
I can't remember the guys name but he is one of these guys that makes AI and he is worried about mass unemployment in the future.

Within 10 years 40% of today's workforce in a developed country will be able to be replaced with AI.
So are 40% of people you know going to transition into AI programmers and maintainers?
I'm sure over time with improved technology more than 40% of jobs will be able to replaced with AI. I guess that just frees up more potential AI software programmers.
Unless a new industry starts in the next decade, I can't see there being enough jobs for everyone.

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

The “world” seems to be moving towards legalising cannabis.

.

I need to buy a big property and learn how to grow and sell weed, until an AI robot decides to buy a farm and grow it themselves

[burnz]

powered by Windows..

[mick taylor]

No way in the world !

The only thing I see about such a car is when you have had a skin full and say home James, siting in the back.

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Unless you're in the USA or Euorpe

(and this is not their busy time of day )

image

image

But them planes are a lot smaller than that in real life and they are at different heights as well.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by mick taylor

But them planes are a lot smaller than that in real life and they are at different heights as well.

Really? I thought that all planes were at least 50km wide!

[CoupeKing]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Really? I thought that all planes were at least 50km wide!

My Mother-in-law can finally be flight attendant now.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by kmav23

https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/21/in...on-deliveries/

In Ford’s future, two-legged robots and self-driving cars could team up on deliveries

Autonomous vehicles might someday be able to navigate bustling city streets to deliver groceries, pizzas and other packages without a human behind the wheel. But that doesn’t solve what Ford Motor CTO Ken Washington describes as the last 50-foot problem.

Ford and startup Agility Robotics are partnering in a research project that will test how two-legged robots and self-driving vehicles can work together to solve that curb-to-door problem. Agility’s Digit, a two-legged robot that has a lidar where its head should be, will be used in the project. The robot, which is capable of lifting 40 pounds, can ride along in a self-driving vehicle and be deployed when needed to deliver packages.

“We’re looking at the opportunity of autonomous vehicles through the lens of the consumer and we know from some early experimentation that there are challenges with the last 50 feet,” Washington told TechCrunch in a recent interview. Finding a solution could be an important differentiator for Ford’s commercial robotaxi service, which it plans to launch in 2021.

The communication between Digit and a Ford autonomous vehicle is perhaps the most compelling piece of this research project. As the GIF below shows, the AV arrives at its destination, the hatch of the Ford Transit van opens and Digit unfolds itself, then grabs the package and walks to the door.

Digit is equipped with lidar and stereo cameras — just enough sensors for basic navigation.

But there’s more to the story. The autonomous vehicle — equipped with a robust suite of sensors and computing power that allows for more complex decision making — is sharing its data with Digit long before it is deployed. When Digit “wakes up,” it already knows where it is in the world. And if Digit runs into trouble, it can communicate with the idling AV for that extra perception and decision-making prowess.

This solves what Agility CEO Damion Shelton describes as a “classic robotics problem,” of helping the robot know where it is when it wakes up from its sleep state.

“If you know you’re riding around in the vehicle with a clear view of your entire surroundings, it’s a lot easier to get up and move around,” Shelton explained. “That’s really how we’re viewing the primary purpose of this beta exchange; to help the robot be aware of its surroundings, so that you don’t go through this sort of boot up process where the robot gets out of the car and is confused for the first 30 seconds it’s turned on.”

Agility’s Digit robot isn’t the only option Ford is experimenting with to solve that vehicle-to-doorstep problem, Washington said. However, Washington did note that the two-legged robots do have certain advantages, like the ability to step over cracks in the sidewalk and walk up stairs, that can be problematic for wheeled robots.

Ford and Agility’s agreement is categorized as a research project, for now. Ford has not taken an equity stake in Agility, Washington said, although he quickly added “that doesn’t mean we’re not open to it at some point.”

For Agility, this project is a turning point — or certainly an acceleration — of its very new business. The robotics startup spun out of Oregon State University in late 2015 with an aim to commercialize research on bipedal locomotion from the Dynamic Robotics Laboratory. The company introduced its ostrich-inspired Cassie robot in 2017 as a bipedal research platform. Digit, which added an upper torso, arms, sensors and additional computing power to the Cassie design, was introduced in February 2019.

Agility has 20 employees, about half of whom support the construction of the robots. The company has raised nearly $8.8 million in capital from seed and Series A rounds. And now, with this latest partnership, Agility is prepping to raise another round to help it scale.

Agility has made two first-generation Digit robots. The company, which has offices in Albany, Ore. and Pittsburgh, plans to unveil the second-generation Digit in early summer. A third version of Digit — marking the final design of this bipedal robot — will likely come out in summer or early fall, Shelton said.

Agility will produce about six of these final versions of Digit. From here, Shelton estimated the company will have a steady state of production of about two Digits a month. Ultimately, Agility is on pace to make between 50 and 100 by 2021.

All of this research and experimentation is part of Ford’s eventual goal to launch a commercial robotaxi service. And that last 50 feet will be one of the critical hurdles it will need to overcome if it hopes to make self-driving vehicles a profitable enterprise. To prepare, the automaker is pursuing two parallels tracks — testing and honing how an AV business might operate, while separately developing autonomous vehicle technology through its subsidiary, Argo AI .

Argo AI, the Pittsburgh-based company into which Ford invested $1 billion in 2017, is developing the virtual driver system and high-definition maps designed for Ford’s self-driving vehicles. Meanwhile, Ford is testing its go-to-market strategy through pilot programs with local businesses, as well as large corporate partners like Walmart, Domino’s and Postmates.

Ford plans to spend $4 billion through 2023 under an LLC that’s dedicated to building out an autonomous vehicles business. The $4 billion spending plan includes a $1 billion investment in startup Argo AI.

Ford is testing in Detroit, Miami, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. and is poised to expand into Austin.

How many days will it take for the first delivery robot to be robbed?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Didn’t take long. Autonomous train flakes out in suburban Sydney, fourth day in actual service.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/ne...1-a0cd4f348fd7

Worth noting also: (1.) There was a chappie on board trained to take over driving duties. Why not put him on the controls full time? …and (2.) Even with manual intervention, some aspects were not responding as expected to control inputs.

Sounds like I'm moving to Sydney

Sounds like my kinda job, sit on a train going around in circles all day while it drives itself playing on your phone until it craps out

Its unreliable enough that your job is safe but reliable enough that you might not need to do much

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Sounds like I'm moving to Sydney

Sounds like my kinda job, sit on a train going around in circles all day while it drives itself playing on your phone until it craps out

Its unreliable enough that your job is safe but reliable enough that you might not need to do much

From what I've read you wouldn't get much time on your phone

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Unless you're in the USA or Euorpe

(and this is not their busy time of day )

image

image

And every greenie bags on about car and truck pollution.

[Dave1966]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

And every greenie bags on about car and truck pollution.

Oh, I’m sure that’s different and able to be explained over a latte at their local meeting spot. Diesels and cars are far far worse than injecting kerosine into the upper atmosphere you know!
I read back in the 90’s that every day the airline industry burns more fuel than the entire allied WW2 effort. The mind boggles what it is now, but back to autonomous cars, it’s a far bigger priority/distraction.

[Junkyard-Dog]

Originally Posted by Ben73

I need to buy a big property and learn how to grow and sell weeds...

Pm me if you want the master class.

[Citroënbender]

I wish there was a credible rumour that smoking Patterson’s Curse was effective as smoking pot. My paddocks would be thinned back to the pasture grasses by hordes of hopefuls, for free.

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

And every greenie bags on about car and truck pollution.

And what do they drive, some clapped out thing with the compression rings gone pumping out blow by, oh that ok in QLD plenty of that crap getting around, mainly 4cyl Vans.


Not to mention that anyone who wants a autonomous car, points to one as a hopeless driver in the first place, not to mention a idiot simple minded greenie would love the idea for sure, as they find it hard to be able to think for themselves but love to follow blindly.

[lra]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I wish there was a credible rumour that smoking Patterson’s Curse was effective as smoking pot.

There is a very credible rumour that rolling in it naked, then making love naked amongst it is very beneficial to those with who want to enjoy the great greener unpolluted outdoors.