Forum Discussion

et2's avatar
et2
Explorer
Mar 20, 2017

Autonomous vehicles and RVing in the future

Just a thoughts running through my mind about the integration of autonomous cars and how it could change our driving in the near future. It's coming, fast. Some say by 2020. Taxis, personal vehicles, trucks, etc. Not to mention how people own cars might change as well. I was reading an article about how in the near future the cars you need to get around in might not be owned by you. Just simply borrowed from a pool of autonomous vehicles suited for your needs and used and sent back.

The way vehicle are changing could perhaps affect cars you own today and future ones. As the technology increases its programmed and developed into these new vehicles. I'd guess maybe to the point where they talk to each other. Or installation of equipment on our roads and more satellites designed to control all this technology.

I believe they wish to reduce the number of cars on the roads and not have any human interaction with the driving experience. How will it affect the RVing industry and its future. I'm pondering, do they want it to survive along with the autonomous industry? If so, how fast will the autonomous systems be integrated into Motorhomes? Will if be affordable at first? Will you have a option to have it or not? If not required will they force the industry to do so by taxing your MH to the point you can't afford it anymore?

28 Replies

  • My opinion on this topic is that it will not catch on with the current generation as a lot of people do not trust technology. Our children and grandchildren who grew up with technology as a way of life look at things differently. I think that our great grandchildren will embrace all technologies and will not want to ride around in their grand parents antique vehicles. Just think that even today one can access all the knowledge available in the world, in just about any language with a small handheld device that one can carry in your pocket. If you had told me that 50 years ago I would think you were crazy. And I love technology. Autonomous vehicles are coming and they will most likely not be powered by an internal combustion engine, and may not become mainstream for a couple more generations.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    I constantly see hot rods, new fancy cars, cars that go faster, lots of bling, speed and style. Zippy cars, antique ones, supercars, RV,s jeeps, pretty much anything with wheels is fun. What does all this mean? People love cars. They love driving them and working on them. From a utilitarian standpoint I see there may be a need or even a want for autonomous vehicles, but never anywhere near the percentage to sway the general population. People have a love affair with cars, and so I never see them prying them from the hands of those with a passion for decades to come. I also think there is a lot of inhibition allowing autonomous anything. While pictures of the future always included this in the landscape, I think reality is different. People like to have control and do things on their own. I know I do. They said a decade ago that a large percentage of vehicles will be battery or solar. And here we are, the percentage is so marginal and I don't see this this expanding any time soon. It's such a small percentage of the market share it's hardly inclusive into the whole picture. Sure they get a lot of media attention, but it's a really, really small population. People still want power, under the hood and the power to manually control it. I think autonomous vehicles are coming. But I think it will be a small market, just like battery powered cars. in order to change the market, people have to want it, and I think engineers and media want it a lot more than the actual consumers.

    On that note, I have been seeing more vehicles that park your car for you. Frankly, if you can't parallel park, you shouldn't be driving. It's less about the parking and more about knowing how to control your vehicle and maneuver it. This sort of technology is an enabler to people who shouldn't be driving in the first place. I know that sounds like a crass comment but it's true. When I took my driver's test decades ago, this was part of the test.
  • Here are some comments from Elon Musk; he predicts the change to occur over the next 20 years, so by 2037 instead of 2020.

    Musk

    I also recall another comment he made basically saying that taxi drivers/Uber drivers will be in obsolete jobs in 20 years.

    So if this is true one would think that there will be some self-driving RV technology out there.
  • No hope on my end. As I enjoy this freedom too. But, don't kid yourself. At some point IMHO you might not have such a easy choice. Taxes have a way of changing the way we do things. It costs 1300 a year just to insure my low end DP here in MI now. Someone owning a more higher cost MH is paying much more. Perhaps you will be able to decide. But you may not be able to afford it.
  • Well, I think 2020 is a pretty ambitious date. I think it's going to take a lot longer than that for the lawmakers, vehicle makers and insurance companies to sort this all out. :)

    I've been thinking about this and I'm wondering if the "autonomous vehicle", as we see it now, will actually become common place. Wouldn't it be better if a humanoid robot, who can do many varied tasks around the home could also drive? If so, then they could be taught to drive any vehicle. You wouldn't need all of the extra doodads that make a vehicle autonomous. One robot - does many things. THAT I could see in our future. I think by the time they get all of the legal aspects of autonomous vehicles worked out, the humanoid robots will be ready for prime time.

    It would be neat being able to party in the living quarters of our motorhome while travelling TO our destination. :)

    But truthfully, I'm not expecting to see this any time soon in widespread use. Of course, I still haven't bought into the "smart phone" mania and just use a cheap ol' limited Tracfone to make calls and text. :)

    ~Rick
  • No there will always be cars driven by humans. There are other articles out there stating that something like 77% of vehicle owners would never consider owning an Autonomous vehicle. I wouldn't get your hopes up too much just yet....