Quantcast
Jump to content


Recommended Posts

Posted

Theres a good writeup in motor trend about the self driving Audi, it can lap a racetrack better than most professional drivers. Perfect lines, no fatigue, no mistakes. Looks to make auto racing about as exciting as watching golf in the next few years.

  • Like 1
Posted

I think the idea of self driving cars is going to look much different once the realities show up. Right now all we are seeing is perfect world scenarios. Can't help but to think about the Marlboro man and the realities of smoking. Anyone who has been in this business for a while learns very quickly that electronics and software do not always act as expected. Some manufacturers are still struggling with unintended acceleration and ignition switches. Then there is the maintenance side of it. How many customers have you seen that ignore the check engine light or many of the other warning lights? What are they going to do when the "self-driving" failure light comes on for the third time after spending $2000 - $3000? What about the second and third owners of a car that don't fix anything unless it is broken? I won't even get into computer viruses or malware. I'm sure fail safes would be the argument, so does that mean these cars would shut down or drive themselves at 5 mph to the closest dealer every time an issue is detected? There are just too many unknowns to deal with. What does the car do when you are sleeping and your 3 y.o. gets out of her car seat and starts to climb out the window?

 

Flying an airplane from point a to point b is a much easier task than driving a car from point a to point b yet there is still no commercial system to do this. There are auto pilots which can maintain heading, speed, and altitude all of which must be set by the pilot and cannot be engaged till a certain altitude is reached. There are automated landing systems that most pilots will not use unless they have to. Even those only get them on the runway where they must take over.

 

Just wait till there are a few unexplained fatal accidents with self-driving cars. Here is a great experiment that I have been doing for some time. I continually ask people, would you ride in a self-driving car? Would you really get in the back seat of a car with no steering wheel and let it drive you to work? I have not even gotten a maybe. Do a quick search on Google, and you see some of the following headlines.

 

Most Consumers Say They'll Steer Clear Of Self-Driving Cars, Survey Says

 

People ‘horrified’ by self-driving cars, says survey, as trials begin
Posted

 

I think the idea of self driving cars is going to look much different once the realities show up. Right now all we are seeing is perfect world scenarios. Can't help but to think about the Marlboro man and the realities of smoking. Anyone who has been in this business for a while learns very quickly that electronics and software do not always act as expected. Some manufacturers are still struggling with unintended acceleration and ignition switches. Then there is the maintenance side of it. How many customers have you seen that ignore the check engine light or many of the other warning lights? What are they going to do when the "self-driving" failure light comes on for the third time after spending $2000 - $3000? What about the second and third owners of a car that don't fix anything unless it is broken? I won't even get into computer viruses or malware. I'm sure fail safes would be the argument, so does that mean these cars would shut down or drive themselves at 5 mph to the closest dealer every time an issue is detected? There are just too many unknowns to deal with. What does the car do when you are sleeping and your 3 y.o. gets out of her car seat and starts to climb out the window?

 

Flying an airplane from point a to point b is a much easier task than driving a car from point a to point b yet there is still no commercial system to do this. There are auto pilots which can maintain heading, speed, and altitude all of which must be set by the pilot and cannot be engaged till a certain altitude is reached. There are automated landing systems that most pilots will not use unless they have to. Even those only get them on the runway where they must take over.

 

Just wait till there are a few unexplained fatal accidents with self-driving cars. Here is a great experiment that I have been doing for some time. I continually ask people, would you ride in a self-driving car? Would you really get in the back seat of a car with no steering wheel and let it drive you to work? I have not even gotten a maybe. Do a quick search on Google, and you see some of the following headlines.

 

Most Consumers Say They'll Steer Clear Of Self-Driving Cars, Survey Says

 

People ‘horrified’ by self-driving cars, says survey, as trials begin

 

I believe it about the current generation but as new technology comes in to play the newer generations will succumb to it.

 

My great grandma didn't understand the purpose of a cell phone.

Grandma has a flip phone but doesn't understand texting.

mom has a smart phone and texts but doesn't navigate it that well and doesn't use many of the features.

I use all of the features of my smart phone, and text, email, and app things to death.

 

My kids (if and when I have any) will most likely have an implant and think that there is nothing wrong with it.

Posted

I believe it about the current generation but as new technology comes in to play the newer generations will succumb to it.

 

My great grandma didn't understand the purpose of a cell phone.

Grandma has a flip phone but doesn't understand texting.

mom has a smart phone and texts but doesn't navigate it that well and doesn't use many of the features.

I use all of the features of my smart phone, and text, email, and app things to death.

 

My kids (if and when I have any) will most likely have an implant and think that there is nothing wrong with it.

I get your point about the adaptation of technology. I'm not sure the progression of the acceptance of the cell phone is the best analogy, but I'll go with it. Right now you are in complete control of your cell phone. Cell phones give everyone freedom and empowerment. If you had a choice between your current cell phone and one that decides who and when to call, what apps you could use, or how fast they can operate, which would you choose? Even as great as cell phone technology is today, calls are frequently dropped, you have to walk around a room to get a signal or maybe outside. How often do you still here "let me call you back on a landline". I have to reboot my phone every so often. Unintended calls are so popular that they have their own term "butt dial". And the number one cause of distracted driving accidents of course, is cell phones. If my cell phone fails in an unpredictable way, it is not going to cause me to veer off the road into a tree. I don't even trust the GPS on my phone to get me to the right place every time. We accept all the shortcomings of cell phone technology because there is no other choice and no one gets hurt if their cell phone malfunctions. Unless of course the text we intended to go to our girlfriend actually goes to our wife.

 

A few other questions I just wondered about self driving cars. Will they be able to detect a failing master cylinder? What about the vibration of a wheel whose lug nuts are coming loose after someone forgot to tighten them? Or, the flap, flap, flap of a failing tire before it flies apart. How will they deal with the snow, and what about the patch of ice in the road up ahead. How will they detect that? What about an obstruction in the road, will it come to a stop and sit there until the obstruction is moved? How does it interpret the police officer tell it to turn around or continue on the opposite side of the road because there is an accident ahead? The list goes on and on and it changes everyday.

Posted

I will never put trust in a computer. Day in and day out we all deal with some type of technology that has a glitch. They can't make the tough decisions that a human brain can. Once they can, we are all in big trouble!

  • Like 1
  • 2 years later...
Posted

Self-driving cars have been getting a lot of buzz recently. Self-driving cars if they become the dominant kind of automobile will have an impact that goes far beyond disruption to changing the whole way life is organized, just like regular automobiles, air travel and steam engines changed everything.

So saying that self-driving cars will hurt the cabdriver profession is like saying the steam engine affected buggy whip makers. True, but not really an important consequence.

Here's a list of inescapable facts for anyone who thinks self driving cars will replace vehicle ownership:

1. A lot of people like to drive.
2. A lot of people live in areas where car sharing will not be practical or economic.
3. A lot of people have kids, pets, a big family, other unique needs, etc. and they can't rely on taxis.

Driverless cars will have to prove their merits in use over a reasonable period of time to win public approval.  So the notion that driverless cars will be "disruptive" in the sense of transforming industries in fundamental ways within a decade is dubious.

Car body dent Repair

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)

Read an article about fully autonomous vehicles yesterday. It basically says that for them to work, Lidar technology will be necessary. The current cost per unit is $75k. They say that the price of these will drop 90% to $7500 per unit. However the vehicle manufacturers need the price to be at $100 per unit. That's a ways off. Other articles have stated that for fully autonomous vehicle to work, ALL vehicles need to be full autonomous so they are all talking to each other. Now, semi autonomous vehicles for freeway driving is probably doable in the near future. Fully autonomous no steering wheel and pedals, not so much. BTW, on the bright side, I'll bet you the more autonomous they become, the more they will build safety features into the system that won't let a poorly maintained vehicle operate. Your vehicle will tell you brakes are needed and at some point, it won't operate until those are fixed.

Edited by tyrguy
Posted

My Mario-driving-style self is looking forward to these things.   They should be easy to pass.   If I want to get in front of one, I simply start pulling into it's lane.    The computer will want to avoid my impending crash and will likely take evasive braking action, leaving me room to advance my position.   Instead of hollering "Get out of the way!" to regular slow drivers, I'll be hollering, "Get a self driving car!".    

Of course, if I owned one, I would want to have a go-fast turbo mode, but then would need to hack the computer.   It will be interesting to see if the software drives safely with the flow of traffic, or puts around doing the speed limit in areas where this is not the prevailing speed.   Will it drive in the right, left or middle lane?   Will it use its blinkers in Boston and thus never be allowed to merge over?    Driving in Dallas, letting someone in your lane due to a blinker is not a miracle parting of the sea, but rather a gradual back off allowing just enough room to complete the maneuver.   Or would the computer wait for a more inviting response and thus be making a correctional U-turn 10 miles later when an accidental gap appeared?

If you are interested in some of the decisions that need to be programmed into the car, consider crash scenarios where there is no right or safe answer.   Here's a scenario generator, "Moral Machine", that is interesting:  http://moralmachine.mit.edu/

 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Available Subscriptions

  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         0 comments
      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
  • Similar Topics

    • By Changing The Industry
      Episode 190 - Hacking Incidents and Protecting Client Information With Cavan Robinson of Vehlo
    • By Changing The Industry
      Why Trusting Our Services Makes All the Difference #podcast #autorepairbusiness #automotivebusiness
    • By carmcapriotto
      Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Auto-Fix Auto Shop Coaching, and Today's Class Dive deep into the importance of health and wellness in the automotive aftermarket industry. This episode features insights from panelists Andy Bizub, Brian Walker, and Jaron Kleber, who discuss maintaining health through diet and exercise, the role of coaching and accountability, and the benefits of personalized nutrition. The conversation covers practical tips for keeping fitness routines while traveling, the connection between discipline and success in life and business, and the transformative effects of mindful dietary choices. Together, they underscore the crucial role of health in achieving personal and professional success, encouraging listeners to prioritize wellness amidst the demands of the industry. Tune in to discover sustainable, healthy practices to enhance your quality of life. Andy Bizub, Midwest Performance Cars, Chicago and Northbrook, IL.  Andy’s previous episodes HERE. Jaron Kleber, Repair Shop of Tomorrow, Jaron’s previous episodes HERE Brian Walker, Shop Marketing Pros, Auto Repair Marketing Podcast Show Notes Watch Full Video Episode Brian's Health Journey (00:04:17) Andy on Passion for Health (00:06:30) Jaron's Tracking and Goal Setting (00:08:03) Dietary Focus and Accountability (00:13:33) Eating Real Food (00:15:57) Keto Diet Insights (00:18:26) Personal Health Goals (00:19:20) Healthy Snacking Tips (00:23:38) Accountability in Health (00:24:51) Coaching for Success (00:25:12) Traveling and Workouts (00:31:18) Restaurant Accommodations (00:34:02) Hormonal Health and Its Impact (00:35:46) Health's Influence on Business Success (00:37:19) Discipline Over Motivation (00:39:47) Final Thoughts on Health and Success (00:41:42)
      Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Thanks to our Partner, Auto-Fix Auto Shop Coaching Proven Auto Shop Coaching with Results. Over 61 Million in ROI with an Average ROI of 9x. Find Coach Chris Cotton at AutoFix Auto Shop Coaching on the Web at https://autoshopcoaching.com/ Thanks to our Partner, Today's Class Optimize training with Today's Class: In just 5 minutes daily, boost knowledge retention and improve team performance. Find Today's Class on the web at https://www.todaysclass.com/ Connect with the Podcast: -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmasters -Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on X: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/ -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/ Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/ Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/ The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/ The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/ Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. https://craigoneill.captivate.fm/                       Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • By Changing The Industry
      Mastering Transmission Programming Will Save You #podcast #autorepairbusiness #automotivebusiness
    • By carmcapriotto
      Thanks to our Partners, AAPEX, NAPA TRACS, and Automotive Management Network Recorded at the 2024 Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO) Business Management and Lindertech Training Tradeshow, discover how simply attending meetings can significantly improve net profit, the impact of cost management, and tips on leveraging technology for business efficiency. Murray Voth, RPM Training. Listen to Murray’s previous episodes HERE. [email protected] Show Notes Watch Full Video Episode Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO): https://www.aaro.ca/ Importance of Attendance (00:02:04) Discussion on how missing educational events can lead to lost opportunities and profits. Value of Showing Up (00:03:05) Murray emphasizes the connection between attendance and improved business performance. Networking and Community (00:04:39) The significance of in-person meetings for building relationships and sharing knowledge. Learning from Group Sessions (00:05:23) Murray shares insights on the benefits of participating in group coaching sessions. Addressing Intimidation in Coaching (00:07:50) Discussion on how some individuals feel intimidated and hesitant to participate in coaching. The Need for Continuous Learning (00:10:59) Carm stresses the importance of seeking expert guidance and accountability in business. Coaching Styles and Techniques (00:11:53) Murray contrasts different coaching approaches and their effectiveness in the industry. Utilizing Technology for Coaching (00:13:28) Murray discusses the transition to online coaching and the importance of Google Business Profile. Engagement in Virtual Meetings (00:14:17) The effectiveness of screen sharing and virtual meetings in enhancing learning experiences. Introduction to Collaboration Tools (00:15:54) Discussion on using screen sharing and collaboration tools for knowledge sharing among automotive shop owners. Resources for Business Improvement (00:18:58) Introduction to automotive management network resources such as SOPs and checklists for business advancement. Note-Taking and Organization (00:20:00) Personal experiences with note-taking and strategies for managing notes effectively in a business context. Using Google Docs for Accountability (00:23:22) How Google Docs can facilitate accountability by allowing team members to log and review action plans collaboratively. Networking and Community Support (00:27:02) Encouragement for members to utilize networking tools like Slack for better communication and support among peers. Understanding Employment Law (00:30:33) Insights into Canadian employment law regarding severance and the importance of having employment contracts to protect business owners. Understanding Severance Costs (00:32:12) Discussion on the financial impact of severance costs and the importance of understanding net income. Calculating Impact on Sales (00:33:13) Exploration of how to calculate necessary sales to cover losses in the automotive industry. Networking and Sharing Solutions (00:34:11) Importance of sharing experiences and solutions among peers in overcoming business challenges. Expense Management Insights (00:35:09) Discussion on the need for better focus on expense management in business operations. Insurance and Expense Comparisons (00:36:02) Sharing strategies for managing insurance and other recurring expenses effectively. Planning Expense Discussions (00:37:35) Proposal to plan discussions on key expenses in future meetings for better financial management. Setting Budgets and KPIs (00:38:27) Discussion on the importance of setting budgets and KPIs for various business expenses. Normalizing Income Statements (00:39:18) Explanation of how to clean up income statements for accurate financial analysis.
      Thanks to our Partners, AAPEX, NAPA TRACS, and Automotive Management Network Set your sights on Las Vegas in 2024. Mark your calendar now … November 5th-7th, 2024. AAPEX - Now more than ever. And don’t miss the next free AAPEX webinar. Register now at http://AAPEXSHOW.COM/WEBINAR NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Get ready to grow your business with the Automotive Management Network: Find on the Web at http://AftermarketManagementNetwork.com for information that can help you move your business ahead and for the free and informative http://LaborRateTracker.com Connect with the Podcast: -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmasters -Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on X: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/ -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections             Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio


  • Our Sponsors



×
×
  • Create New...