Ask HN: Why aren't remote human drivers a thing?

4 pointss_r_n6y ago13 comments

I saw an article today where Steve Wozniak said he didn't think autonomous cars would come to fruition during his lifetime. However, I have not read very much about any sort of innovation around a system that uses human drivers to control vehicles remotely. Why isn't this idea being explored more?

13 comments

icedchai6y ago

Connectivity in general. You need a 100% reliable, low latency, high bandwidth connection. Milliseconds matter in an emergency.

MS906y ago

The USAF is able to deal with latency issues when controlling and targeting drones on the opposite side of the planet, though I do believe they use local people with line of sight connections to handle takeoffs and landings.

I don't see why something like their systems couldn't be applied here. Well, other than the fact that you'd need the resources (see: cash and massive satellite network) that the USAF has...

shoo6y ago

Reaction time requirements are probably much more forgiving for drones -- don't need to suddenly brake or change course due to the movements of other tightly packed drones around you during the daily commute

abhinuvpitale6y ago

There is also the question of trust, one of the biggest non-technical challenge to overcome would be to convince general public to get into a car which doesn't have a driver. It would be similar to getting into a rollercoaster.

No control whatsoever of what might happen next despite every bit of your trip being pre-planned to the dot.

gshdg6y ago

USAF has billions to throw at the problem.

convolvatron6y ago

usaf importantly doesn’t have any liability in the case of accidental death

TheEndless6y ago

Maybe because it still requires a human to be occupied during the task, and they also don't have physical safety stake in the activity. I don't think I'd feel quite at ease if a driver over the Internet had my fate in their hands. Also that brings up the fact that latency and failure of wireless communications could mean death.

udayrddy6y ago

I do not see any use case with it. If I have to remote control it, I would rather control directly. Isn't the whole purpose to make use of your time on other works instead of driving?

jolmg6y ago

Maybe the idea is that as soon as you're detected to be sleep, a driver from some company gets alerted and takes over your driving until you wake up.

thecrumb6y ago

Tunnels? Overpasses? Trees. Thinking about how many times my satellite radio fades out.

tdeck6y ago

They are a thing. This company is doing it with trucks: https://www.starsky.io/

raztogt216y ago

no skin in the game for the remote driver

wingerlang6y ago

Imagine driving a car over Skype

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