The Emergence Of New Niche Player's In The Automobile Industry...

[Aprilia]

Interesting reading...

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/aut...-start-automakers-aim-carve-out-niche-n523746

 

[wizard of ahs]

Yea, that's all we need..............cars that drive themselves !!!!!!!!

Some people seem to think they already have one

 

[Aprilia]

Yea, that's all we need..............cars that drive themselves !!!!!!!!

New advanced technology (including the self driving autos) is headed our way very quickly...and will change our perception of personal transportation...

Google will eventually be in the automobile business...they have all the necessary resource's to make this huge transition...

Watch this amazing video... Boston Dynamics is a Google company...

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35648918

 

[Rickb]

Self driving cars may be safer than many drivers behind the wheel choosing to do a variety of other tasks while driving.......from texting to applying makeup.

Perhaps that robot will be available to chauffeur us around in our Elio's........may need a second door for a more convenient rear seat access.

Interesting videos. Technology is advancing very rapidly while becoming more affordable and fun to watch.

 

[Jeff Porter]

It is fun to follow changes in technology... back in the 90's, it was "What was life like before.... ATM's, VCR's, and microwave ovens?"

Now, it is "What was life like before... the internet, DVR, and smart phones?"

But if you notice, there's nothing in those 6 items w.r.t. automobiles. We still get in a door that's manually opened, sit down, start it up, drive it down the road, and turn on the radio. There's no flying cars, no self-driving cars, no engines that run on trash for fuel.

Not to get TOO philosophical or controversial, but we humans (and we Americans) do love the ability to migrate, travel, be mobile, see new places.

Some good changes over the last 40 years: you can find an open fuel pump ("gas station") on a Sunday or holiday... tires are much more dependable and long lasting... you get in BIG trouble if you drink and drive... the average vehicle is lighter and safer.

 

[Mel]

OK, Here's one problem with self driving cars. They can build all the automation they want into the car. But very much of this depends on the roads the car is to be driven on. There has to be something in the road for the car to follow. When is the last time you drove on a road that wasn't under construction, had proper stripe markings, etc? Even GPS data isn't that accurate and roads change on a regular basis.

 

[Mel]

It is fun to follow changes in technology... back in the 90's, it was "What was life like before.... ATM's, VCR's, and microwave ovens?"

Yep; I remember before electricity, us cavemen were sitting around the cave saying, "We ain't never gonna have radio."

We had to watch TV by candlelight.

 

[Jeff Bowlsby]

OK, Here's one problem with self driving cars. They can build all the automation they want into the car. But very much of this depends on the roads the car is to be driven on. There has to be something in the road for the car to follow. When is the last time you drove on a road that wasn't under construction, had proper stripe markings, etc? Even GPS data isn't that accurate and roads change on a regular basis.

Yup.. Its called GPS and on board sensors to detect/react to immediate conditions. Inexpensive, powerful technology, pretty common and becoming more so. None of us will be driving our own cars 'like the good ole days' in the foreseeable future. And we'll be safer and less stressed.

None of the google cars have ever crashed. They have been run into by others a couple times, but none have caused accidents.

 

[RUCRAYZE]

Interesting reading...

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/aut...-start-automakers-aim-carve-out-niche-n523746

thanks for the post- nice to see the E given some space.

 

[HonestTex]

One of the major reasons I'm buying an elio is because I like to drive, and it looks fun to drive. You can have your self driving cars, I'll drive myself and enjoy the experience of driving.