Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Peter_L]

This is one of several links that deal with an ethical choice made by a computer.


http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2016/06/self_driving_cars_crash_optimization_algorithms_offer_an_ethical_quandary.html

Place yourself in this scenario. You are driving your vehicle along a narrow road high in the Alps. To the right is rock and to the left a 1500 ft drop into the canyon. Appearing around a bend is a packed tourist coach. Smoke pouring from the brakes, headlights ablaze and horn screaming.

You only have seconds to react.

Throw your vehicle over the edge.

Stay where you are and take the consequences.

What would a computer decide ?

Should we even allow vehicles that make choices ? Does mankind need such choices.

You are travelling alone so you can enjoy the last few months of your life before a terminal illness.

You are travelling with your children and Grandchildren.

You have just been car jacked and a gun is held to your partner's head.

Can a computer ever be allowed this kind of control. ?

So many options with so many variables.

[peter scott]

Ethical choices can be impossible. Religions like to suggest they provide the answers but they don't. The only human way to run your life is "Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself."

In the case of the approaching coach it sounds like you can choose between death or serious injury by way of the precipice or by head-on collision. You have the chance of saving the lives of the coach passengers by opting for collision. Surely this is the best choice.

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Rick]

It may also depend on who else you have in the car with you at the time - just yourself, or yourself plus a car full of children, for example.

I think I'd also err on the side of a collision.

RJ
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[Bitumen Boy]

I don't think we need worry ourselves about the ethics of self-driving cars just yet. When you consider how much money the system would lose in speeding fines and parking fines - driverless cars will always obey the speed limit, and could be told to keep driving round the block while you're in the bank or whatever - I doubt they'll be allowed on the roads in my lifetime. Politicians may be stupid, but they're not stupid enough to kill off the golden geese known as motorists.

[Dipster]

In which case they will surely simply tax them, no?

[Bitumen Boy]

Well they could, of course; but that would have to be an obvious, upfront tax. In Britain at least politicians of all brands prefer stealth taxes - a bit here, a bit there - because they hope that people won't notice they're being robbed.

[Penman]

Hi
There is a possiblity that a truly autonomous vehicle, without any manual controls, might appear within 15 to 20 yrs, decisions about ethics and rules such as Asimov's 4 Laws of robotics need to be considered before then .
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Any 2 from:-
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[Peter_L]

These are Asimov's 4 laws.

A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2.A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3.A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

0.A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm

Does the world actually need driverless cars and is there a real danger that in 1 to 200 years, humans will have lost the ability to reason.

Prior to vehicles having backup sensors, were there any other forms of automatic control or alarm, whose sole purpose was to remove human judgement or reaction.

Do brake lights fall into the category ?

[Penman]

Hi
After 44yrs working with learners I would contend that so called safety equipment such as Seat Belts and Air Bags have given a number of drivers a false sense of security.
I remember a an item at the back of Motor or Autocar many years ago which suggested that a six inch spike in the centre of the steering wheel would be a better encouragement for more awareness, thinking ahead and safer driving. It was a regular satirical column of course.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[Dipster]

[petelang]

Reinforces my belief that BMW drivers have their faculties Tampered with.
Could it be to do with the red dash lighting?
I just know when you see one in the rear view mirror, you're expected to get out of the way...or suffer the peril!
Peter

[Rick]

A sobering reminder that a driver needs to remain on the ball, even when the car is taking many of the decisions ...

http://news.sky.com/story/1720018/tesla-driver-in-first-self-drive-fatal-crash

https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/tragic-loss

RJ
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[MikeEdwards]

I heard that on the radio this morning too Rick.

I think the only way these things could work properly would (or will, maybe) be if (or when) all vehicles are computer-controlled, and all using the same algorithms for priority, avoidance, lane selection and so on. I pity the software developer who has to try to out-think a human driver coming the other way, and develop code to predict and deal with every possible scenario.

[peter scott]

Aparently the Tesla was known to have some blind spots. It's very bad publicity for driverless cars but just as with jet airliners and Comet fusilage failures it shouldn't stop further development.

Peter
_________________
https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Peter_L]