Anyone Tried the Ford PTBA?

IdaD wrote:
I don't worry too much about people becoming too reliant on technology just cause of something that helps them back up a trailer. That's a pretty small niche.

If you want to talk about more widespread automation, like fully automated cars, now you've got my attention. I don't necessarily doubt the claims you hear about reduced traffic congestion, reduced crashes, fewer fatalities, and etc. But they raise a host of concerns, and loss of driving skills probably isn't even the biggest one. For example, if the programmer's goal is really to minimize fatalities, that might mean purposely piloting your car off a bridge in certain instances for the greater good. That's a pretty good ethical pickle.

Might as well not own a vehicle with automated driving...it will be PRT
system...basically horizontal elevators. Get in, push some buttons
and/or load your destination. Sit back, open the laptop/etc or read
the paper

Personal rapid transit
PRT personalrapidtransit

For me, boils down to allowing the robot to make decisions. Not the
how close to follow, when to brake stuff...but shall I stay behind this
slow poke or pass...or the current problem with them not being able
to make the decision to move forward when someone is too close to
the corner...someone moving there, but not going to cross...the computer
won't go...or move/stop/move/stop cycling

The biggest issue is how well they designed the fail safe (redundancy,
master/slave decision tree, etc)

Computers do crash from total to portions of it's system...AKA Brain Fart...


On backing up or any maneuver...know where your pivot points are (they
are the tires/axles), the over hang and where you wish to get to.

I always get out and walk around checking where I want my trailer tires
to pivot at and where the end/overhang will swing into...that rock,
that 4x4 post, etc