OT First robot car fatality.

[harry]

[GB]

The car drove *under* a truck trailer which it confused with the sky. Presumably, the driver lost his head.

[Nightjar]

Over here, under EU regulations, the trailer would have had under-run side bars, which the car's radar would have detected.

[GB]

So, this EU-thingy regulates all the trucks that drive around our part of the world? It makes them all adhere to the same safety standards, so that car drivers are safe, even from trucks that come from abroad? That's a dreadful idea, and we should take no part in it.

In any case, side bars are a fad inflicted upon us by faceless bureaucrats (never for one moment imagine they have a face) as a whim.

[Cursitor Doom]

The real dealbreaker for me preventing me buying a new car is the extent to which they've become computerised. Some of these cars, even luxury Mercedes models have been hacked into remotely and taken over by the hacker. I find that a bit scary, even if the risk of it happening is low, the consequences could be very nasty. I wonder if it would be feasible to take a brand new car and rip out all the control systems that enable it to be remotely taken over, and ensure

100% that it can never happen. I guess the biggest hurdle would be devising a bespoke vehicle management unit from scratch. This would be relatively simple for a 20 year old vehicle, perhaps, but what about one just off a production line?

[polygonum]

The reports I have read all make it sound as if the Tesla uses optical wavelengths. It surprised me - not that they use optical at all, but that they don't also use some sort of more-or-less microwave radar and, possibly infra-red as well.

The atuality may well differ from the reports read so far.

[The Natural Philosopher]

NO radar. visual only

[Caecilius]

The most annoying part for me is how a failure in one minor and unnecessary piece of equipment can make the ECU log a fault and remove lots of functionality. Or if you're really unlucky put the car into limp home mode.

There are third-party ECUs available for some engines. Megasquirt is one example.

[Nightjar]

From the linked article:

'According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the car's radar system deliberately ignores objects high up, so that overhead road signs do not cause the car to brake.'

[T i m]

I think we have seen from the recent EURef facts' post that TNP has far from a real world / fact based gasp on many things he posts about.

But of course he *would* argue the point (EU influenced safety) because he does so with *anything* that counters his fanatical Brexit-at-any-cost suicide bomber crusade. ;-(

Was it really worth (potentially) destroying this country for just a few windmills and solar panels (obviously his 'thing', re Gridwatch etc).

Baby out with the bathwater much?

Cheers, T i m

[tabbypurr]

typical bremain bull.

NT

[alan_m]

From what I've read they do have radar and even in the absence of under-run bars perhaps it should have detected the rear axle.

Perhaps the trailer did have a under-run bar covered with a aerodynamic cowling that deflected/absorbed the radar beam in the same way as a stealth fighter?

[Michael Chare]

I would think very difficult. On my 13 year old car even the door locks and electric windows are driven by a communication system linked to the central management computer.

At intermittent fault that occasionally make the car go into limp home mode can be impossible to cure. If you take the car to the garage they just say they can not determine the fault.

[T i m]

Care to unequivocally counter any of his points?

Cheers, T i m

[Dave Liquorice]

From the side? Maybe it did which is why it tried to drive betwen the fith wheel and rear axles of the trailer.

This is the US they generally don't have side under-run bars or spray control either.

[Steve Walker]

Reports were that Tesla fit cameras, radar and ultrasonics, but that they are all low and don't look upwards - hence looking right under the trailer of an artic.

[Adam Aglionby]

In a statement, Tesla said it appeared the Model S car was unable to recogn ise "the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky" that had driven across the car's path.

Remember `platooning` idea of the 80`s that cars would drive like trains al ong motorways aautomated gap sensing and all....

[Dave Liquorice]

Ah what they are going trial with HGVs on the M6.

[Bill Wright]

So if it confused something with the sky how does it manage at night?

Bill

[Brian Gaff]

From what I heard on the radio it was dazzled, which does seem a bit of a lame excuse to me. If it had been driving into a very low sun does this mean it would drive into anything?

As has been said, headlights can dazzle, they even dazzle me even though I see no actual imagery in my eyes. I was also interested to read that some new models of truck are starting to use composite materials instead of metal to keep the weight of the trailers down. If these cars really do rely on a radar, this surely would not be a good idea, as it probably would not see that either. I'm eagerly waiting for these vehicles to be usable by the blind, but at the moment I think they are only allowed if a qualified driver is on board to take over if they fail. In the case of this accident it sounds like there would not have been time to take over. There is bloke across the road with one of these Teslas in his driveway sometimes. it apparently belongs to a relative, but the majority of the auto features have to be off on public roads in the UK apparently as they are not yet licence. Seems that this bloke has more money than sense. Brian