Welcome to the future! Well, it's almost here…in a couple of years, GM will be launching a self-driving system on the 2008 Opel Vectra. Known as the Traffic Assist, the system is said to be able to drive the car on its own in heavy traffic at up to 60 mph. Using lasers, video camera and controlled by an advanced computer, the system can recognize signs and detect obstacles, controls the car via a complete drive-by-wire set up that covers throttle, steering and braking. While we've seen various manufacturers putting bits and pieces of these technologies on their cars, this would be the first example that combines them all and enabling your car to truly "think" for itself. A bit scary, if you think about it…I sure hope the computer doesn't run on Windows OS and requiring frequent reboots, especially at 60 mph. I think I'd prefer to do what Will Smith did in iRobot – deactivate the computer and take the wheel. But that's just me.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
john @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
coupled with a good GPS system, this could be the start of the driverless taxi.
I just can't figure out how much to tip the car???
Kamil @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
that Opel Vectra looks nice, GM should sell that US.
TPan @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
Toyota, and probably other Japanese manufacturers, have already begun designing vehicles for this same purpose. GM is not the first. In Japan they have already started to build the infrastructure for freeways to accomodate self driving vehicles
Glenn Arlt @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
It'll never happen in the US with our litagous society. Can you imagine the lawsuits if the system went down while driving? Or even if it didn't idiot drivers and sharp lawyers would sue anyway, even if it were the driver's fault and the system was "off". Nevergonnahappen.com, at least until we get rid of all the lawyers.
Disrali, the first Jewish Prime Minister of Great Britain (from over 100 years ago approx) was reputed to have said "first, we shoot all the lawyers" but then he was elected and like all politicians, he didn't follow through on his campaign promises.... ha.
sk @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
Kamil, this car is coming over here as a Saturn Aura in 2007.
bill @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
Yeah - let's get rid of all the lawyers so we can have driverless cars and no responsibility when the systems go wrong and run people over. Living the future is just going to require sacrifice - in this case, a few pedestrians.
Incidently, Glenn, I think the quote you're referencing came from Shakepeare's Henry VI, which was written about 400 years ago.
Alberto B @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
#2 and #5 that car is already on sale in the US, it has been properly fuglified and downgraded by the masterminds @ GM for the US market and is called the Chevy Malibu.
The Aura has stronger cues from the 2005 Vectra and the current Astra. The car from the pic is the previous Vectra, which recently received a facelift.
JP @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
Reminds me of the Ford Fusion (headlights at least.
Dear GM: Abandon Saturn's awkward styling language and sell re-badged Opels as Saturns.
Zelidar @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
Microsoft OS? Well, at least in case of software initiated crashes and the legal consequences there would get better cash than with any free open source Linux solutions, thus a strong motivation for a long and very serious test phase in Redmont.
Adam @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
Well that will be good for traffic. I love Gm so I hope it works. I just dont like putting my full trust in a machine. Have you ever seen terminator 1 2 and 3?
naggs @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
"It'll never happen in the US with our litagous society. Can you imagine the lawsuits if the system went down while driving?"
uhm... if my car is suposed to drive its self and it runs into a tree and paralizes me, i want somebodys ass in debters prison for life.
Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
"Microsoft OS? Well, at least in case of software initiated crashes and the legal consequences there would get better cash than with any free open source Linux solutions, thus a strong motivation for a long and very serious test phase in Redmond."
Uh no. You should read your Microsoft End User License Agreement (EULA). It specifically states that they are not responsible for anything they're software may do or cause during it's usage.
Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
they're = their. Since I know that will get some people excited! :)
Zelidar @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
12# hmm, haven't read that boring EULA since ages and I guess you are right but what applies on our desktops does not necesseraly apply everywhere else.
As we write this your car has probably already some pretty fancy BOSCH software to control your (ABS) brakes. You can bet it has been tested and tested again.
Even only with an OS Microsoft would have to share some of the responsability, EULA or not. The third parties would anyway turn back to Ms.
Anyway, now in 2005, is a Ms OS still less stable than all the other OS? A positive answer would contradict my own recent experience.
Scott David @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
I do not appreceiate the Windows operating system remarks.
I run SuSe Pro 7.0 and Server 2003. If I were
buying a car that was controlled either by a Linux operating system or by Microsoft. I would buy the car embedded with a Microsoft operating system.
It is a no brainer.
Richard Warren @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
#4 & #6
“The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers”
Second part of King Henry VI, Act IV, scene II line 42
Heck it might be better than some of the "drivers" we see every day.
Meta-fm @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
I wouldn’t trust any new car bringing me to destination! What should I trust it further? I would prefer GM focusing on new energy and propulsion system that pollute less instead of non sense :)
Meta-fm @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
I wouldn’t trust any new car bringing me to destination! What should I trust it further? I would prefer GM focusing on new energy and propulsion system that pollute less instead of non sense :)
iQuack @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
Scott, why did you mention only Linux and Microsoft?
If I were choosing an operating system to run my car, it would be the Mac OS for stability.
Microsoft is a great company but remiss in protecting its users from attack. Maybe Windows Vista will improve this, but until then, Mac is the "no brainer" choice IMO.
Finished.Law.School @ Dec 18th 2005 11:16PM
Considering GM "quality" and "reputation" can this sort of thing be trusted if it comes from them. Maybe they should have Toyota or Honda review it first.
But with a Mac it will only work with 2 cars and only a very small percentage of GM employees would purchase it.