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U.S. to decide soon on GM's request to deploy cars without steering wheels (www.autoblog.com)

submitted 1 year ago by L4s@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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U.S. to decide soon on GM's request to deploy cars without steering wheels::U.S. regulators will soon decide on a petition filed by General Motors' Cruise self-driving technology unit seeking permission to deploy up to 2,500 self-driving vehicles annually without human controls, a top auto safety official said on Wednesday.

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[-] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 74 points 1 year ago

I don't understand how cars would work on their own with no input from a driver small-scale

I understand being able to type in "Drive to Walmart" and it can back out of your driveway and go to Walmart, but then what? It goes into the parking lot? It finds the first available space? What if you just wanted to go there to pick something up curbside? How can you tell it to go to a specific stall? What if you're disabled and need to go to the handicap space? How can it tell if your authorized to use that space?

There's so many little nuances that I don't understand not being able to have a steering wheel to take control of and manually do things at some point.

[-] pokemaster787@ani.social 30 points 1 year ago

Read the article, this isn't talking about consumer-owned vehicles but the Cruise Origin robo-taxi service. They're small autonomous shuttle-style cars.

Basically GM reinvented the bus but made it smaller.

So to answer "How does it park at Walmart" - it takes the passenger to the front and drops them off then continues on its way. I believe the intent/current trials using Bolts have an app similar to Uber, you put in your current location + destination, then it comes and gets you, then drops you off.

Almost 0 value in removing a steering wheel or any kind of input to a consumer-owned car like that, makes some amount of sense for robo-taxis. (They specifically wanted passengers sharing the ride to face eachother to ease safety concerns, and they probably don't want random Joe getting up at the emergency controls and driving it off road)

[-] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago

I am not getting into that machine. It's going to have some metldown and lock me in until I sign up for GM premium then catch on fire.

[-] bric@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago

I think that's a fairly common reaction, but it's important to remember what you're currently trusting your life to. Right now meat machines made for hunting and finding berries are operating giant death machines at speeds that they didn't evolve to understand, and sometimes that meat machine needs to constantly remind itself to pay attention and not shut down while driving, or to look for children, or to go the right speed, because driving isn't natural for meat machines. Not to mention that they take entire seconds to respond to stimulus (which can be hundreds of yards at speed), and they can only see in one direction at a time. And even if they do everything right, they can have a stroke at any time and kill everyone in their car and the car they hit.

Compare that to an actual machine, built to pay attention to everything in a full 360° at all times, never drives drunk or drowsy, and has double redundancy to prevent mechanical failure. They always drive at the right speeds, and react to problems within milliseconds.

Comparing humans to robots, it's honestly a testament to how chaotic driving is that robots didn't take it over a long time ago. But within our lifetimes I guarantee that we'll look at it the same way that we now look at chess. Humans may have been better at one point, but very soon computers will be so much better than us at driving that it's not even a competition. And it's fairly likely that they're already past that point, these GM cars already crash less than the average human driver

[-] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

First off you can knock off that arrogant way of speaking right now. I have been building, repairing, designing automated systems for the past 15 years of my life and none of us call humans meat machines.

Secondly when you are talking about automation being better what you really mean is the human who wrote the software. Which is often the case is me. Software is dogshit and always has been. A big part of my job is having to explain to process engineers and project managers why I made something less automated not more. Operations needs a way to get out of crisis, this is why you allow manual overrides. Operations also needs to be able to alter process, this is why you separate recipes from functionality. The goal is to enhance the human, not to do something for them. Man on a bicycle metaphor you can read up for yourself.

I have no idea what double redundancy means. Why don't you explain it exactly? I could use a laugh.

[-] bric@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

none of us call humans meat machines.

I phrased it that way for emphasis, I didn't think that anyone would assume I was trying to use industry lingo when I call humans "meat machines".

Second, I'm also a developer, I write code for a living, I doubt that's particularly rare on the fediverse. Yes, sometimes I write shitty code, but that shitty code still runs at a million times the speed that I can think, it can be proven for accuracy, and when it has been will make fewer mistakes than I do. There are a lot of things that computers are just better at than we could ever be, regardless of the quality of the code that it's running. There's also a lot of things that humans are great at, I wasn't trying to undermine that fact, I was just trying to emphasize that there's really no reason to think that driving can or should be one of those things. We give teenagers licenses after a week of drivers ed, we get distracted while driving, we drive under the influence of drugs, we fall asleep, we have strokes and heart attacks. Driving is something that we're statisticallyvery bad at.

Operations needs a way to get out of crisis, this is why you allow manual overrides

Sure, and there will always be manual overrides, but it won't rely on whatever passenger happens to be sitting in the vehicle (if any), it will be handled by an employee in an operations center. That's what they're doing now, which is why the steering wheel isn't necessary.

I have no idea what double redundancy means

Yeah that was a dumb way to phrase that. I apologize for failing to have my lemmy comment properly peer reviewed before posting it

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[-] mean_bean279@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago

Back in the 80s or 90s GM (specifically Buick) teased a car with no steering wheel. It instead used joysticks. I’m curious if GM is basically thinking of that. Something more motor friendly, but joysticks also free up space for either more electronics (bad idea) or more safety equipment. The other thing people forget about is that a steering wheel is a giant spear aimed at drivers in a collision. We’ve gotten better about breakaway systems and shears, but it’s another point of injury and failure. The more enclosed a cabin the better. Anyways, all this to say that it might be that direction that GM is thinking and not a fully no input vehicle. It could also be a fleet based vehicle that only drives on main roads which effectively makes it a train that follows a “digital track” and doesn’t allow for nuance and is built for taxi service.

[-] SpeakinTelnet@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago

You just made me realize that we created a disconnect between the driver input and the car response on most thing except for the steering that for whatever reason is still a physical column down to the direction.

At this point electronic joystick and steerings are ancient in the PC gaming space, I don't see why that physical link is still required.

[-] mean_bean279@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Infiniti on the Q50 released the first “direct adaptive steering” which was fancy marketing for steer by wire where no column was supposed to be present. This made it so consumers still had the same feeling, but it allowed for cool things like not having a rod aimed at your body, closed up another point of egress into the cabin for critters and water, and also gave you the ability to have it account for road undulations and wind so if you held the wheel straight even on a windy day it would adapt and steer straight. People however freaked out about steering not having a physical link and so Infiniti added in a column that would effectively reconnect if for some reason the steering ever stopped working. But it ruined the idea behind it. Anyways, consumers are kind of what holds us back. We all think of things having to be done a certain way without realizing there could be better ways of doing something. Side mounted joysticks, like a plane, would allow for people without legs for instance to drive cars. People with fine motor skills could be more precise and software could account for a shake in their hands.

A few companies are starting to experiment with brake by wire and throttle pedals haven’t been physically cable linked for decades at this point. Why do we still have steering wheels like that?

[-] TheDubh@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Not saying alternatives to steering are a bad thing, but there is also an issue of feedback and customer expectations. People like what they know/are used to. That’s why EVs had to add a lurch option and additional sounds. It throws people off mentally when part of the standard experience is missing.

Joysticks in theory would be an improvement, but let’s be honest you’d basically have to retrain people on how to drive it. Just a person gets additional training even to drive a forklift. And let’s be honest even if mandated not everyone would, and there would be wrecks. Not counting because of the learning curve it’d sell less, and it’d get bad press for every wreck.

I suspect the general consumer would be willing to hand control over fully, than have to spend extra to relearn how to drive their vehicle. We’ve been trained that self driving cars are the future for multiple decades now.

[-] dmention7@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

Because the opportunity and severity of failure of the physical steering wheel is an order of magnitude or more greater than any other system that has been replaced by electronic systems in most cars.

[-] SpeakinTelnet@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

I would argue that steerings are already fully electronically controlled in self-driving cars or have been partially controlled for a while now in traction control systems.

Putting cars aside, most large aircrafts are fly-by-wire and are really reliable in that regard.

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[-] average650@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

I guarantee they have an app

[-] Erasmus@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

That will require a subscription.

[-] CaptObvious@lemmy.world 72 points 1 year ago

No, no, no, no. This is right up there with my state wanting to let 18-year-olds carry concealed deadly weapons in classrooms with no permit. A deal breaker for my continued participation in this society.

[-] mr_sparkle@lemmy.world 47 points 1 year ago

I recently learned that the state where I’m from considers a baton a deadly weapon so it can’t be purchased as a means of defense, but an Ak-47 is perfectly fine to purchase AND open carry.

[-] CaptObvious@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago

Great gods. I guess the AK is considered a hunting rifle or a paperweight?

I'm tempted to ask if you're from the South, since this is exactly the garbage that too much of the region would champion. But honestly, the upper Midwest seems just as bad when it comes to "Muh guns!"

[-] unphazed@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

To be fair I'd have a hard time concealing my ak47. It doesn't get fired much, ammo is expensive. Most of my ammo is for shotties and the .22 for putting down nuisance and injured animals.

[-] 11181514@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

Yeah self driving cars are totally the same thing as giving a teenager a gun in a school.

[-] CaptObvious@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Given their track record, yes.

[-] 11181514@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

What a disgusting point of view.

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[-] CrypticCoffee@lemmy.world 36 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I wonder if this came from engineering or the marketing department.

I'm getting "Let's do this, and if it fails (which it will), it'll look like we're really confident in our self-drive and are a challenger in the market" vibes.

Even if you have excellent self-drive, there is no logical reason not to have a backup steering wheel just to intervene in case. Tbh, I had no idea they were even in the self-drive market which may be their true problem. No one really knows.

[-] Jackcooper@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I remember being shocked that my third generation smart phone didn't have a pull out keyboard. Or that headphone jacks became a casualty. I think in the long run this is the goal.

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[-] mezzlegasm@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

if there’s no one in the driver’s seat to pay attention, then why would you have a wheel to intervene “just in case”?

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[-] TAG@lemmy.world 29 points 1 year ago

From the article, the cars will be used as autonomous taxies. It is too bad. I was hoping that by removing the steering wheel, GM would have to add in the most important important self driving car feature: a release of liability. I will not fully trust autonomous car controls until I stop being legally responsible for the actions of my car.

[-] RidcullyTheBrown@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Public transport should be the primary target for the technology at this time. At least in parts of Europe, the primary issue with increasing public transport capacity is lack of drivers.

[-] thallamabond@lemmy.world 26 points 1 year ago

I fantasize about the day that I could get into a self driving car and just shout a destination at it, then go there. My commute is over an hour a day and I could use that time for myself. I don't think that day will be here soon.

These companies need to demonstrate that their vehicles are capable (more capable than MOST drivers), and they need to do it transparently. Whats more important to me, would be the manufacturer taking the liability, licensing, and most importantly take responsibility for their mistakes (again openly).

[-] Zebov@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

I do as well, but then I remember the insane amount of money and man power it takes to keep things working well (like airplanes, subs, etc) and realize exactly zero people would realistically do that. So it's great in theory, but really, really far off from being something I'd trust.

[-] thallamabond@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

For years I argued with people that with some small changes to our infrastructure and some regulation, this would be something we could accomplish in just a few short years. I still feel that way somewhat, but every time a bridge collapses, or I hit the same pothole I've hit for months it erodes.

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[-] Captain_Patchy@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago

There isn't a chance in hell I'm buying a car without a steering wheel.

[-] MyNameIsIgglePiggle@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 year ago

I reckon it's going to be a car-as-a-service so don't worry your head about ever buying one

[-] Widowmaker_Best_Girl@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

I just love owning nothing! I'm so happy to never have anything I can call my own!

[-] jacktherippah@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago

OceanGate Titan on wheels.

[-] CliveRosfield@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

I can’t wait to drive with a 20 dollar Logitech gaming controller instead

[-] Melonpoly@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

Stick drift will be wild!

[-] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

My friend had a Civic with built in stick drift.

He didn't drive the car much thankfully.

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[-] tiny_electron@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 year ago

I'm pretty sure the technology is not ready to go this far

[-] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

It’s not. It absolutely is not

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[-] sneezy@lemm.ee 10 points 1 year ago

That's very interesting, actually. Because manufacturers of self-driving cars say they're only drive-assisted, not autonomous. To dodge liability for their cars causing accidents. If the car is without a steering wheel and therefore fully autonomous, and the car runs somebody over, is the car gonna go to jail?

[-] phoneymouse@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah don’t know how well that works in practice. Either I’m engaged and driving or I’m not. Letting the car drive while I continue to pay attention and somehow anticipate with superior reaction time that the car is going to make a mistake seems like more stress than it is worth. My current car has lane keep assist, which is helpful, but if I’m going to give full control of the car to the computer, then I don’t think I can/want to be on standby. Seems like more stress than it is worth.

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[-] ZombieTheZombieCat@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago

We've all seen this episode of Silicon Valley.

[-] redditReallySucks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 year ago

And what happens if something unexpected (e.g. badly signalized road works) comes up? With current implementations you can you take over. But what do you do without wheel?

[-] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

“Run them over.” -waymo

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[-] axtualdave@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

From the article, this looks like it's for GM's "Cruise" program, which is already out there in limited scope in a couple cities. It's aself-driving car service limited to a small area of San Francisco and.. I want to say Austin?

They're already operating vehicles that are essentially "self-driving" now. This is about rolling out a new class of vehicle using the same technology, but without the human controls.

I don't know a lot about the service, or what, exactly it does, but I suspect it works well because the area the vehicles operate in is extremely limited and the vehicles can have an incredibly detailed, and up-to-date map of that area. I'd also wager the area selected is free of most obstacles and has only one type of terrain, i.e., "downtown low-speed streets" or similar.

That said, I can't imagine the NTSHA will allow a vehicle on the road without any sort of manual emergency control mechanism in place. Though, it may be very rudimentary, like others have suggested, a joystick and a throttle/brake intended to get the vehicle somewhere safe so people can get out.

[-] p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This is Level 4 automation, and even it needs a human override. Can't override without a steering wheel.

I think this whole plan is just a gimmick to dangle that carrot in front of the public, fooling them into thinking Level 5 full automation is just around the corner, when it really, really, really isn't.

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[-] me8myself@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Everyone keeps saying no in this thread, but I trust that it will be a better driver than my 80 year old grandpa who can't see 10 feet busy still manages to retain their drivers license.

[-] axtualdave@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

It's okay to say "No" to two things at the same time without having to choose one or the other.

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this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2023

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