I like semi-autonomous systems because they still take some of the cognitive load off of driving. Paying attention is still easier than paying attention plus constantly having to adjust speed/steering/etc.
Cruise control is great. I still control where the car goes though. I still have to be 100% attentive to what the vehicle is doing. At no point am I relying on the vehicle to keep me safe.
Automatic transmissions are great too, except for very specific use cases.
> I like semi-autonomous systems because they still take some of the cognitive load off of driving. Paying attention is still easier than paying attention plus constantly having to adjust speed/steering/etc.
I think I would be more open to 'smart' information systems - beeps when leaving a lane, back up cameras, etc. Anything that takes piloting control is a step too far for me at this time. Cruise control is largely proven to work. I never worry about it failing when I use it.
I like the idea of emergency braking as one last backstop. It can react faster than I can, and if prevents something I’m happy. It’s not like I’ve given up the brake pedal to it.
Lane assist is similar. It’s very useful in high crosswinds, but it’s reliable enough even on well painted roads that you get used to it and end up relying on it. It feels a bit like power steering: makes the job easier but you never stop doing the job.
This is an example of something I might be open to, but I guess because I write software I have a million 'what if' nags worrying about edge cases.
> Lane assist is similar. It’s very useful in high crosswinds, but it’s reliable enough even on well painted roads that you get used to it and end up relying on it. It feels a bit like power steering: makes the job easier but you never stop doing the job.
On this I disagree. If you're not controlling the vehicle enough to keep in your lane, you're not paying enough attention - except in the high crosswinds scenario. I don't drive in high crosswinds, so I guess that is not a use case I am familiar with.
Like many of these it requires active input. It will turn itself off (with a nice audible and flashing warning) if you don’t keep doing your part. You’re not going to get more than 30-45s of ‘I don’t have to do anything’ before it turns off and it’s all on you again.
as for the steering and lane keeping, even at V8 it was perfectly fine across hundred mile stretches of interstate. where it had difficulty is when the right line vanished for splitting highways or off ramps. still it recovered to the left before fully going to the right. Not 100% but I bet over 90% of my 600 mile commute North was with both traffic aware cruise control and auto steering.
What took me the most to get used to was TACC which many cars have and have had for years. Once I learned it really did stop and move correctly everything fell into place. The steering was my least concern and I quickly understood its limitations. The payoff was, realizing I was drowsy by seeing something in the rear view mirror I did not recall passing and the car kept me and others safe. Needless to say that was a wake up call to take a break.
Is it perfect, no. However I am under no illusion that I will be able to hop in a FSD car of any brand in bad weather and have it take me to the hospital within the next five years and maybe even ten. I really want to see how they overcome snow and near white out conditions that I have driven because at the time I had to