Cars obeying speed limit despite you
Intelligent vehicle monitoring systems are nothing new. Whether it takes the shape of active cruise control, lane departure warning systems or a device that can measure the eye movement of a driver and then deliver a pulse through the steering wheel to ensure the motorist doesn't fall asleep, all these gadgets seek to curb the inherit problem of basic human error.
Speeding though is one area were few achievements have been made. That may all change with a new device manufactured by Australian company, Seeing Machines Ltd. In an effort to reduce speed related crashes and limit the amount of tickets being issued to drivers who push the mandated velocity envelope, Seeing Machines has developed a logical, albeit intrusive, solution.
A camera mounted on the windshield has the ability to recognize signs posting the legal speed limit. The camera then detects the speed the vehicle is traveling and, depending on the users configuration, begins sounding a series of beeps to alert the driver of the their infraction. Another system, based off the same hardware, can actually apply the brakes of the vehicle if the driver does not comply with the previous warnings. Although this system has proven useful, Seeing Machines has found that most drivers prefer to have absolute control.
If all goes according to plan, we should start seeing these devices for sale within the next two years.
[Source: Drive.com.au]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sid 3:12PM (7/31/2006)
Awesome! A kid will change the 50KMPH sign to 5 and sit back and watch the fun.
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Jared 3:16PM (7/31/2006)
I think this is a bad idea, in some instances this will get people killed. Take for instance I-80 outside of Lincoln, NE. The posted speed is 75 mph, but to go with the flow you must go at least 85 or 90, or risk being run over by an 18-wheeler. The last thing we need to worry about is a car that will apply the brakes for you and cause a 50 car pileup. Basic rule of the road, go with the flow. Everyone knows that, just like in a torrential downpour on the highway when you can't see, you keep on driving and you don't slow down! Then again, in some situations this could be very helpful to keep the teenage daredevils from running up on people in their deathmobiles!
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Shawn 3:17PM (7/31/2006)
A car that automatically applies the brakes is more dangerous than a speeder (ie, when you're trying to pass another car).
A more realistic solution is a law that make all drivers wear a electro-shock collar. Everytime you go past the speed limit, it will send out a jolt. When you change lanes without signaling, it will give you a jolt. Of course, the perfect solution is some type of chip inserted into everyone's brain and enforces against anti-social behaior, sexual deviants, filthy language and invention of useless gadgets.
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Christopher 3:23PM (7/31/2006)
So what has happened to the art/joy of driving?
I mean, I missed the 60's, was too young to drive in the 70's and the 80's just offered some really crappy cars. Well, plus I had a minimum wage job! So now, I'm in my mid 30's and cars are better now than ever (matter of opinion) but government (and the cars themselves) are telling us how to drive them?!? Isn't it enough we have just too many nanny systems in our cars to begin with that we now have to live by our very own cars rules?
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Jay 3:25PM (7/31/2006)
Instead of spending all this money on nanny technology, maybe they could, I don't know, spend the money on half-decent driver education programs so that people can drive well enough to prevent and avoid most kinds of accidents.
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Howard Kerr 3:26PM (7/31/2006)
Shawn, I think you may almost be on the right track. Instead of a device to help speeders avoid speeding...I wish more, A LOT more time, money, effort, inventions, would be devoted to stopping drunk drivers from getting a vehicle up to any speed.
But municipalities don't make as much money off "traps" for drunk drivers as they do "traps" for speeders.
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Baumann 3:27PM (7/31/2006)
Re: Jared
Yes, in actuality "going with the flow of traffic" is a good idea. However, when I was a teenager, I got pulled over for doing 5 over on the highway. Ticketed and everything. I wasn't going faster then everyone else. I just happened to be a "punk kid."
Officers can and will ticket you for going even 1 mile over the speed limit if they're in a bad mood. In reality, we should all be going under it, since it is in fact the "Limit." Trust me though, EVERYONE (except Hillary Clinton) wants the speed limit raised, though I suppose the grannies that drive 55 in a 70 probably wish it was lower.
Ideally, there should be a minimum posted speed limit and a maximum posted speed limit, with everyone driving somewhere in between. As it is, with officers being able to tag you for going too slow or too fast, it's solely based on officer discretion, with the speed limit signs meaning nothing.
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Sid 3:27PM (7/31/2006)
"Instead of spending all this money on nanny technology, maybe they could, I don't know, spend the money on half-decent driver education programs so that people can drive well enough to prevent and avoid most kinds of accidents."
Shhsshhh. That's logical. You can't say that! It's better to add nanny-techs, increase cell-phone and other gadgets in cars and hand out 400HP vehicles to 18yr old girls.
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Andrew 3:42PM (7/31/2006)
i have an option to set my car to beep at me at a set speed. i'm afraid to use it though, even though its only supposed to beep i'm afraid it'll actually limit it :'(.
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Shawn 4:07PM (7/31/2006)
Howard Kerr, it is possible to genetically engineer every human born in the US to reduce or delete the production of the enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase. That should reduce the level of alchol consumption dramatically. We can further control the population by using technology used to treat parkinson's patients and burn off brain matter in anti-social individuals. By using a brain map template, we can customize the brains of all infants before they become aware.
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bgdc 4:10PM (7/31/2006)
If the car could do that and it offered the ability to disable said option, I'd buy it. But if the system can't be disabled, there's no way in hell I'd buy it. Or drive it.
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It 4:16PM (7/31/2006)
Raising the speed limit to 260mph will make it to where no factory car will be able to exceed the speed limit. Problem solved.
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epp_b 4:27PM (7/31/2006)
["Another system, based off the same hardware, can actually apply the brakes of the vehicle if the driver does not comply with the previous warnings"]
You know what makes me sick about that? I mean, sicker than the big-brother factor? That is going to kill someone, and all in the name of satisfying control-hungry governments and bringing in a political revenue stream (mark my words: they'll be reporting back to law enforcements before you know it).
["Although this system has proven useful, Seeing Machines has found that most drivers prefer to have absolute control."]
Well, good call there, Sherlock! It took a research firm to discover that?
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Araemo 4:47PM (7/31/2006)
And how does a system like this work when there are no speed limit signs on a particular stretch of road.
What if I'm turning off a 25mph side street onto a 65 mph highway that does not have a speed limit sign(None at all, maybe it was vandalized last night, or someone already crashed into it and it's unreadable...), am I going to be a 40 mph rear-end accident in a moment?
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saken 4:47PM (7/31/2006)
I would recommend find on internet Clarksons Motorwold series. (excellent! Filmed in 90's but anyway my jaw dropped to the floor in some places. Especialli I liked how the tires are mounted in Iceland :)
In the episode in dubai Clarckson overrided automatic speed limiter with a black tape.
http://www.kakao.lv/?zoomzina=1788
(not sure if this link still works)
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Finished.Law.School 4:48PM (7/31/2006)
The people responsible for making this device should be killed. Their parents should be killed as well for creating such horrible people.
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Brian 5:12PM (7/31/2006)
It's nice to know that in an emergency or dangerous situation I could not control the velocity of my own vehicle.
Then again, it's also comforting to know that the government is going to have to think of another way to earn revenue than harassing its citizens since no one will be speeding anymore.
Then again, if we could use that technology to make the cars of accelerate UP to the speed limit we might have something useful, safe, and socially constructive!
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chopper 5:27PM (7/31/2006)
So.....why can't you just put a little piece of cardboard over the camera lens? bubble gum? Duct Tape? Come on people. :)
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RacetrackOwner 5:36PM (7/31/2006)
"In an effort to reduce speed related crashes"
I don't know about Australia, but in the US it has been clearly demonstrated by federal government studies that the likelihood of an accident is reduced drastically as vehicle speeds are increased. (The tradeoff is that the likelihood of injury in the event of a crash also increases, but that increase occurs at a much lower rate.)
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Daggy 5:44PM (7/31/2006)
What is it about Australia that comes up with these ideas? Did'nt photo radar originate in Australia, and headlights on laws, and seatbelts, and ...............
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