Summarizer

Infrastructure and Regulation

Discussion of US versus China approaches to autonomous vehicle infrastructure, state competition for AV companies, potential for regulations favoring conservative approaches

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While China actively upgrades physical infrastructure to support autonomous vehicles, the American approach—led by companies like Waymo—focuses on adapting technology to existing roads, a strategy that may prove more globally exportable despite the U.S.’s historical difficulty in executing major public works. This decentralized landscape is shaped by a federalist system where states compete for industry investment through varying regulatory climates, allowing for a "wait and see" approach that balances innovation with local safety mandates. However, debate persists over whether vision-only systems can meet minimum legal requirements, leading some to argue that conservative, multi-sensor technologies will eventually prevail by lobbying for stricter safety standards. Ultimately, commenters suggest that a standardized testing framework for both humans and AI may be necessary to ensure that autonomous systems can truly replicate the multi-sensory awareness required for safe driving.

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Google Fiber was struggling for a while because cable companies are in bed with power companies and wouldn't let them run fiber through their easement areas. In fact, even cities couldn't run their own fiber. What you envision might happen in 2100+
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It's tough in the US because the one thing we have already going for us is a massive and comprehensive road network. Waymo et al are leaning heavily into the existing infrastructure, which is the right move given the inability of the US to execute major changes to infrastructure these days. Compare that to China, where infrastructure is being actively upgraded to accommodate autonomous vehicles. As nice as the Chinese approach sounds, it's probably a lot less exportable than the 'take the roads as they are' approach of Waymo.
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Maybe I'm giving GM too much credit, but it seems to me that GM acquired the technology with the intention to bring it into their vehicles as driver assistance, not autonomous driving. They were pretty candid about not wanting to operate taxis. Cruise itself was embroiled in investigations and was prohibited from operating in SF and voluntarily ceased operations in other markets, which basically made it a target, and since GM had already dumped a few billion into it, it probably made sense to at least get unencumbered rights to the tech.
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Especially the part where the cameras do not meet minimum vision requirements [1] in many states where it operates such as California and Texas. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43605034
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And to some extent, I also drive with my ears, not only with 2 eyes. I often can ear a car driving on the blind spot. Not saying that I do need to ear in order to drive, but the extra sensor is welcome when it can helps. There is an argument for sure, about how many sensors is enough / too much. And maybe 8 cameras around the car is enough to surpass human driving ability. I guess it depends on how far/secure we want the self-driving to be. If only we had a comprehensive driving test that all (humans and robots) could take and be ranked... each country lawmakers could set the bar based on the test.
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The terms of service probably require you to sue Tesla in that Texas district with his corrupt judge pal.
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(1) is true, but actually driving is definitely harder without hearing or with diminished hearing. And Several US states, including CA, prohibit inhibiting hearing while driving, e.g., by wearing a headset, earbuds, or earplugs.
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I've long expected Waymo's approach to prevail simply because - aside from whether vision-only proves good enough to some standard - it will be easy to lobby for regulations that favor the more conservative approach. But I also don't think we can take anything from what Waymo claims about the feasibility of vision-only.
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That lawsuit was about trade secrets shared with DMV. And DMV advised them to file a restraining order against a third party seeking redacted info.
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I think past experience shows that the US prefers a wait and see approach - owning in part I think to it federal structure, where states compete for companies good graces and money, so if State A bans something, State B will allow it and gain an advantage in that area.