While I was stuck in traffic the other day, I recalled a Wall Street Journal article about driverless robocars. I enjoyed the article and even Tweeted it. The article referred to predictions that futurist Norman Bel Geddes made back in the 1930s.
Bel Geddes made predictions about architecture and transportation. His work on the Futurama for the 1939 New York World’s Fair contained what were then almost-shocking transportation concepts. His Futurama concepts included extensive car ownership by individuals (amazing in the post-depression years), dramatic interstate highways, and unheard-of radio controlled cars – something like a robocar.
70 years later almost everyone does seem to own a car and we certainly have interstate highways, although I did not like being stuck in traffic on one. So, where is my radio controlled driverless robocar? I think it is coming soon, step-by-step. Manufacturers are touting their advances in adding technology to their cars: Bluetooth cell phone connections are everywhere, GPS systems will show us the most energy efficient route, collision warning systems will make us safer, hands-off parallel parking is now a reality, and wireless internet capabilities will provide for streaming radio, Tweeter, and Facebook. Fully automated robocars can’t be far behind.
When I see a dedicated HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane, I think some day maybe there will be a dedicated RC (Robo Car) lane. I’ll be able to drive my car onto the RC lane, press a button on the dashboard, and the computer will take over – keeping me on the straight and narrow. That would be great, especially if I want to make a cell phone call, text, surf the net, update Facebook, or Tweet! (It will probably be a toll lane, but it will be worth the toll.)
Which brings me to a comment I saw which said what we really need is smarter drivers not smarter cars. Well, maybe we could use both. As we transition to Bel Geddes’ “Radio Controlled” cars (or even today, actually), we will need to be very careful about distracted driving. Surely, the next steps with technology will include lockouts for texting or other functions while driving – except, of course, on the Robo Car Lane!
Growing technologies in our cars will make life very interesting.
Growing Sophistication of Technology in Cars
– June 4, 2010Posted in: Emerging technology, Innovation, Science & Technology, Social Entrepreneurship
7) re: Growing Sophistication of Technology in Cars
Casey Coleman on 6/11/2010 10:03:41
I don’t know. But I do know that if technology can help traffic flow more smoothly, there will be less time spent idling and burning gas sitting in traffic. That would be a helpful development.
I agree that many of the predictions have been accurate.
I wonder how the petrol heads will cope…you know people like Jeremy Clarkson in the UK and the top gear ensemble.
I think that before long the sounds of the big v8’s and v10’s will be replaced by the silence of the electric car.
I think it is only a matter of time before they become the norm in cities and suburbs.
If they will include lockouts for texting or other functions while driving on the Robo Car Lane you will only be able to text or phone other drivers that are on the Robo Car Lane. Who controls the speed of the lead car?
I agree with the sophistication of technology growing in the auto field. Like a new car being introduced along on totally on battery. This is one example. What if the battery fuses, battery runs out?
Technology is paving its way out of the world. Les see how far technology can go.
Thanks
RE: Casey Coleman
I am a robotics researcher and I think the Electric car closer to a reality than AI controlled cars. The issue in the mind of the public of safety will be difficult to overcome. Mainly because of experiences with the Personal Computer revolution and “Rapid Prototyping” methods that assumed bugs/crashes on the consumer end are acceptable.
An AI car unlike a PC must be constructed with the mindset that failure is catastrophic and should be avoided at all costs. Which in turn will slow them to market.
OTOH We see electric vehicles on the market today and I think it is only a matter of time before they become the norm in cities and suburbs. It may take awhile for them to meet the needs of rural towns but they should be rather common soon.
Once we have fully electric vehicles and control computers that go with them we will see a lowering of the wall that is blocking Robotic cars from being a reality.
So if you want to see automatic cars on the road push them to mainstream electric ones. The two things go hand in hand.
6) Untitled
vertical wind turbine on 6/15/2010 4:53:54
Maybe there’s a technology that make no more traffic.
With Global warming changing the shape of the earth and increasing amount of vehicles running on the streets would trigger alarming signals to mankind survival on earth. I would suggest and make a request to the automobile engineers to come up with cheaper and efficient hydro electric vehicles and make it available to the average person. we can make a difference and we know we can.
Would this innovation support global warming …?
Some of those 30’s predictions were surprisingly accurate. I remember a Sci/Fi movie from the 30’s about the 1980s – while we don’t have flying cars, they did predict automatic electric hand dryers.
What I like about the idea of robotic cars is an RC lane – it makes it less scary and less about giving up control, and more about a choice in a way of driving.