Tesla's KITT of the future
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Assasinge
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Tesla's KITT of the future
Looks like KITT got a big overhaul, eh? http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/20/watch-a- ... tself.html
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Re: Tesla's KITT of the future
It is the best of times. It is the worst of times.
Honestly, did I ever expect to see a car really driving itself like this in my lifetime?
That was absolutely a thing of beauty.
At the same time, I just had to note how 'the (there for legal reasons) driver' kept his hands at the edge of the wheel, as if half expecting anything to go wrong. And, perhaps what even seemed worse was how the one who would normally be driving and was not...would constantly have this massive wheel that could suddenly move at any second. I suppose that people would normally get used to it. Yet, at the same time, it seems like both a safety feature AND safety hazard. I don't like the Google Smart Car's complete lack of wheel, either. Seems like there must be a third option. Perhaps a wheel that is 'on wire' or digitally driven over directly connected to the mechanics. Or maybe how some science fiction movie had a wheel that retracted while in auto pilot. After all, I was thinking about what a functionless driver behind this large, randomly spinning circle may wind up actually doing. (My regards to Captain Dunsel.) And if s/he could somehow get caught (like a shirt sleeve) or a hand in the wrong spot. Could that cause bodily harm? Or if interfering with the wheel disengages or causes a malfunction...even a life threatening one? Or...what if the weather gets nasty and droplets/mud/tree leaf obscures one or more of those cameras? I'm sure a ton of other questions are also possible, here.
Another troublesome spot, I'm sure that I've already brought it up, is how this auto pilot feature was a download via the internet. How soon until the hackers break through the security and turn cars like this against Humanity? I can easily see extortion and jokes being the basement level of possibilities. (Enter the Tesla and go for the power. Pop up message appears on that jumbo tablet, demanding your credit card number before you move an inch. Culprit of a trojan that obtains money for it's illegal master. Or a joke trojan that stops the car rather randomly for no reason to speak of.) Or ones that intentionally make the car speed and keep the driver from regaining control, so as to make those who can afford one of these pay out the nose for speeding tickets. All the way up to killer cars that intentionally collide with other cars...police officers and anything else the terrorist wants it to.
Then, of course, there is simple age that causes equipment failure. Sure. It's hilarious when the aged vending machine randomly spits out free food from circuit failure. But, what when the 20 year old car computer starts executing odd malfunctions? What a brave, scary world this can become.
I've also been hearing bits and pieces about Tesla. Like how these cars actually cost even more to make then they are being sold for. And how Tesla is pushing for a Mars colony. Sounds like the president is an extreme fan of science fiction and has the money to make it become factual. That's one way to be forever famous to all of Humanity. There's even one of those Tesla charging stations within two miles of my home. The very interesting bit: The "fill up" is free. To those that can afford the price of admission, these cars could make that lengthily road trip, far more affordable. I wonder what the life of those batteries is going to be and if it counters the cost of thousands of gas refills?
Honestly, did I ever expect to see a car really driving itself like this in my lifetime?
That was absolutely a thing of beauty.
At the same time, I just had to note how 'the (there for legal reasons) driver' kept his hands at the edge of the wheel, as if half expecting anything to go wrong. And, perhaps what even seemed worse was how the one who would normally be driving and was not...would constantly have this massive wheel that could suddenly move at any second. I suppose that people would normally get used to it. Yet, at the same time, it seems like both a safety feature AND safety hazard. I don't like the Google Smart Car's complete lack of wheel, either. Seems like there must be a third option. Perhaps a wheel that is 'on wire' or digitally driven over directly connected to the mechanics. Or maybe how some science fiction movie had a wheel that retracted while in auto pilot. After all, I was thinking about what a functionless driver behind this large, randomly spinning circle may wind up actually doing. (My regards to Captain Dunsel.) And if s/he could somehow get caught (like a shirt sleeve) or a hand in the wrong spot. Could that cause bodily harm? Or if interfering with the wheel disengages or causes a malfunction...even a life threatening one? Or...what if the weather gets nasty and droplets/mud/tree leaf obscures one or more of those cameras? I'm sure a ton of other questions are also possible, here.
Another troublesome spot, I'm sure that I've already brought it up, is how this auto pilot feature was a download via the internet. How soon until the hackers break through the security and turn cars like this against Humanity? I can easily see extortion and jokes being the basement level of possibilities. (Enter the Tesla and go for the power. Pop up message appears on that jumbo tablet, demanding your credit card number before you move an inch. Culprit of a trojan that obtains money for it's illegal master. Or a joke trojan that stops the car rather randomly for no reason to speak of.) Or ones that intentionally make the car speed and keep the driver from regaining control, so as to make those who can afford one of these pay out the nose for speeding tickets. All the way up to killer cars that intentionally collide with other cars...police officers and anything else the terrorist wants it to.
Then, of course, there is simple age that causes equipment failure. Sure. It's hilarious when the aged vending machine randomly spits out free food from circuit failure. But, what when the 20 year old car computer starts executing odd malfunctions? What a brave, scary world this can become.
I've also been hearing bits and pieces about Tesla. Like how these cars actually cost even more to make then they are being sold for. And how Tesla is pushing for a Mars colony. Sounds like the president is an extreme fan of science fiction and has the money to make it become factual. That's one way to be forever famous to all of Humanity. There's even one of those Tesla charging stations within two miles of my home. The very interesting bit: The "fill up" is free. To those that can afford the price of admission, these cars could make that lengthily road trip, far more affordable. I wonder what the life of those batteries is going to be and if it counters the cost of thousands of gas refills?
