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neumann@csl.sri.com
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2018 9:27:18 PDT

NPR reported today that Waymo is buying a slew of cars to create a driverless taxi fleet with no human overseer required in the car. Emergency takeover would be done by a fleet of well-trained remote admin personnel,
*via cell phone*.

There seem to be some massive flaws in that reasoning. One is the need for real-time response. Another is unavailable cell-phone coverage.

I recall the case of someone who used his cellphone to start his car at home, and then drove into Red Rock Canyon Park, parked, and later tried to start his car (with the presence of his cellphone). Unfortunately, he had left his wireless unlocking/starting dongle at home, and there was no cell coverage in the canyon. His wife climbed up out of the canyon, called a neighbor who could get the remote dongle out of their house, and bring it to them so that they could drive home.

Just one more example of short-sightedness and lack of awareness...


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