Autonomous vehicles and RVing in the future

[et2]

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?

[et2]

Stormy Eyes wrote:
I suspect if and when self driving cars (especially shared car) become available and affordable and easy, the number of people investing in new tow bars and toads will begin to decrease. Those who are already set up for towing and who use the toad a lot likely will keep towing. But those buying a motorhome might decide to get an autonomous car once they arrive at their destination rather than buying one to tow. Or they might have the autonomous car bring a lucky grandchild to the campsite, keep the car and the child at the campsite during the visit,then send the kiddo back to the parents in that car.
I suspect self driving Motorhomes will arrive only after cars have been available for some time. Might be nice though. As one on a cruise ship one wakes up in a different port, one could awaken in a different state. People with limited vacation time might love sleeping while the rv drives itself.

Self driving RV's. Although I love driving. That thought does have a lot of interesting possibilities. But they'll probably have a auto lock to the fridge if motion 😞

[et2]

But, we all agree it's coming. The actual timeframe is the unknown. Personally I feel it'll be much quicker than we think. As the technology matures more and more of it will be taking control of your cars, you won't have a choice.

I can imagine those who wish to hang on to their driver in control cars could become a liability, as in a problem for this technology to work "properly". More like you can't trust drivers to be dependable and consistent in driving their cars. Road rage, speeders, loafers, drunk drivers, etc, all will bring the technology to a halt if we all aren't part of the same system.

Many things are in the cars now. Auto parking, lane departure warning,auto braking, adaptive cruise control, etc.

But how will it affect the RV industry?

[Bill_Satellite]

Autonomous vehicles are coming. However, they really are not coming that fast. There will likely be "some" on the road by 2020 but they will not be the predominate vehicle for many, many years after that and it's unlikely that it will have any impact on the RV industry (other than the Mobile Eye type driver assist hardware) during our life span. What happens to our kids after we are gone I could care less about!

[Mile_High]

Ah, we already have autonomous beer trucks in CO. Maybe I can just have the beer truck follow me to the campsite 🙂

beer truck

[Stormy_Eyes]

I suspect if and when self driving cars (especially shared car) become available and affordable and easy, the number of people investing in new tow bars and toads will begin to decrease. Those who are already set up for towing and who use the toad a lot likely will keep towing. But those buying a motorhome might decide to get an autonomous car once they arrive at their destination rather than buying one to tow. Or they might have the autonomous car bring a lucky grandchild to the campsite, keep the car and the child at the campsite during the visit,then send the kiddo back to the parents in that car.
I suspect self driving Motorhomes will arrive only after cars have been available for some time. Might be nice though. As one on a cruise ship one wakes up in a different port, one could awaken in a different state. People with limited vacation time might love sleeping while the rv drives itself.

[Ductape]

There was a time you had to hand crank the car. And control the spark advance, fuel mixture, and row the gears.

It's almost here.

Breathe and relax. "They" are not coming to take away your driver operated cars. When automation becomes an available option some will pay extra to get it, eventually it will be the new norm, and then just expected. Just like air conditioning.

[Space_nerd]

About 100 years ago a lot of pretty smart people believed that those horseless carriage contraptions will never replace a good horse. Most cars last 20 years today. Automated vehicles will be on roads beginning about 2020. But it will take 20 years for todays vehicles to be replaced. But eventually as more AV's show up on the road the insurance industry will develop safety data. If that data shows that AV's are safer than humans it will become difficult to afford insurance to drive yourself. Once we reach that tipping point humans driving a vehicle will be just like horses today. It will mostly be done for leisure.

[btilfan]

Yeah, and I was supposed have a flying car by now.

[Mile_High]

rk911 wrote:

Effy wrote:
...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.

along those same lines...the first thought I had when I started seeing the commercials for the self-parking, self-braking and other autonomous/semi-autonomous features on current production models was...I don't have to pay attention...the car will save me. at least that's the message I took from the commercials and I'm likely not alone and that concerns me.

Ya, there is some concern for that - similar to what has been revealed on some lessons learned on aircraft incidents years back, the pilots don't retain the training on how to actually fly in an emergency.

[rk911]

Effy wrote:
...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.

along those same lines...the first thought I had when I started seeing the commercials for the self-parking, self-braking and other autonomous/semi-autonomous features on current production models was...I don't have to pay attention...the car will save me. at least that's the message I took from the commercials and I'm likely not alone and that concerns me.

[Effy]

bobkatmsu wrote:
As mentioned before, I think that there will be some very practical applications for the elderly and handicapped. My concern is that the government will decide for us that this is the way to go. 30 years ago people did not think that the government would try to control gas mileage. Some suggested that there would be rioting in the streets if laws were made controlling the types of cars we drive, but CAFE standards have been around since 1975 and get more restrictive every year. If a group of politicians think they are smarter than everyone else, they may try to take the decision away from us altogether.

This is true to a point. But Good old fashioned American ingenuity usually prevails to retain our love affair with cars. Better exhaust, better chips, performance parts etc. The performance aftermarket for cars is a massive business - as are shops that specialize in this. So despite regulations, we have still figured out a way to keep the passion alive. Of course I guess someone one day will put a blown 350 in an autonomous vehicle for sheer spite. I still see all kinds of flavors of Model A's and the like, from restored, to rat, to trailer queen hot rods. First production car ever built still getting action. Government reach can only go so far. Killing the aftermarket and performance car biz would be a large negative impact to the economy.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

Executive wrote:
Coming soon to the Daytona 500. Pre-programmed autonomous vehicles moving around a circle. Most likely electric. Sounds exciting!.....Dennis

Can't be anymore boring that it has become lately.

[bobkatmsu]

As mentioned before, I think that there will be some very practical applications for the elderly and handicapped. My concern is that the government will decide for us that this is the way to go. 30 years ago people did not think that the government would try to control gas mileage. Some suggested that there would be rioting in the streets if laws were made controlling the types of cars we drive, but CAFE standards have been around since 1975 and get more restrictive every year. If a group of politicians think they are smarter than everyone else, they may try to take the decision away from us altogether.

[Executive45]

Coming soon to the Daytona 500. Pre-programmed autonomous vehicles moving around a circle. Most likely electric. Sounds exciting!.....Dennis