Featured A futuristic solution to Highway congestion

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by bernie3015, Aug 26, 2017.

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  1. bernie3015

    bernie3015 Member

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    t does not take much observation to realize that a overcrowded highways have less capacity to move people because the cars slow down so much. If the highways could be packed and still move at the speed limit they would have vastly increased capacity to move people. Not to mention making a lot of people happy!

    The solution is auto-piloted cars. With autopilot, cars can be set to drive at the speed limit (and a little above to close gaps) and at minimum safe distance. The entering and exiting of the vehicles and lane assignment would also be handled automatically by simply requiring the destination. Car lane assignment would be controlled by computers. Once a highway is at capacity, cars, simply will not be allowed to enter but the capacity to move people would be much much larger than it currently is with the same lanes.

    Yes there will be many technical and political problems to work out. These problems need to be worked out and this should happen within the next ten years

    For the rest of the article go to: http://www.elearnaid.com/fusotohicoau.html

    Thanks,

    Bernie
     
    #1 bernie3015, Aug 26, 2017
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    huh, never heard of it before. sounds like science fiction!:p
     
    #2 bisco, Aug 26, 2017
  3. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    ...or we could give up our freedom and concede to government controlled mass transit...for the good of mankind.
     
    #3 frodoz737, Aug 26, 2017
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  4. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    You first! :D
     
    #4 Prodigyplace, Aug 26, 2017
  5. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    :LOL: Not!
     
    #5 frodoz737, Aug 26, 2017
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  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Maybe someday, people will look back with wonder at a time when people actually drove their own vehicles.
    But until that day? I enjoy driving and have no wish to own an automated self driving vehicle.
     
    #6 The Electric Me, Aug 26, 2017
  7. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    The technical term is "platooning" which means two or more vehicles perform as if they are one:


    Both of our cars, BMW i3-REx and Prius Prime, have dynamic cruise control which means I can follow other traffic with the sensors and computer handling distance management:

    I use it as much as possible since it offloads another source of frustration.

    But there is a phenomena called a 'standing wave' that can lead to traffic coming to a complete stop in the absence of any overt problem:

    We don't know, yet, if a set of cars using dynamic cruise control will be immune or moderate this effect.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #7 bwilson4web, Aug 26, 2017
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    hov lanes can become express tech lanes. (i may have coined a new term, remember me if it comes true someday)
    if you want autonomous, just slide in.
    if you want to do battle with all the other whack jobs, stay out.
     
    #8 bisco, Aug 26, 2017
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  9. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    How do you enforce to keep the whack jobs out. Equip the autonomous ones with lasers to remove said whack jobs? :eek:
     
    #9 Prodigyplace, Aug 26, 2017
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if the whack jobs enter the ETL, the car automatically enters autonomous mode.
     
    #10 bisco, Aug 26, 2017
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  11. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Those whack jobs usually customize their rides. You can be sure autonomous mode would be disabled.
     
    #11 Prodigyplace, Aug 26, 2017
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it would be beyond their control. remember, we're talking sci-fi.
     
    #12 bisco, Aug 26, 2017
  13. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    IIRC, you work in the airline industry. Do you think it would be good if the airlines could fly totally independent of all other aircraft? Seems the gov't part of the system (traffic control) works well with most of the issues happening (landings/takeoff's) when humans are in the most control.
     
    #13 fotomoto, Aug 26, 2017
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  14. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    How about automation lanes completely closed off from the "live free or die" folks and let the market decide?
     
    #14 fotomoto, Aug 26, 2017
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  15. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    @fotomoto Last time I looked, Commercial Aircraft don't fly bumper to bumper in an uncontrolled two dimensional world. Air traffic is VERY controlled by people. Commercial Pilot are highly trained and experienced. There are very few airports and/or aircraft in the world that are CAT IIIc capable. Anyone idiot can get a License to drive a car. Stick to what you know.
     
    #15 frodoz737, Aug 27, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017
  16. bernie3015

    bernie3015 Member

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    I take this as an extreme complement.
    Science Fiction authors are constantly creating future realities that come true.
    20'000 Leagues Under the Sea,, Jules Verne, 1870
    Rockets
    Histoire Comique de la Lune Cyrano de Bergerac France 1657 Multi-stage rocket After meeting biblical figures and giants, Cyrano goes on trial to prove mankind is intelligent in this satirical, humorous romp.
     
    #16 bernie3015, Aug 27, 2017
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  17. bernie3015

    bernie3015 Member

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    Converting car pool lanes was my first idea but if the traffic in the car pool lane was going the speed limit and the rest of the lanes are going 5 mph it would be impossible to enter without major ramps and they would be very expensive so I came up with the idea of converting the entire highway. This is not something that could happen now but in 10 years or less I think it will.

    Also, this will utilize the highway and keep the lanes productive by having the cars moving at the speed limit. It will vastly improve the traffic flow. The biggest problem will be how to prevent cars clogging surface streets waiting to get on the highways as the current ramps are not long enough. A reservation system might be needed but then how do you keep cars without reservations or without proper equipment from entering. Law enforcement as much as I do not like the idea will probably work.

    At least initially it would probably be just rush hour but it is not hard to imagine the times expanding as traffic congestion grows.
     
    #17 bernie3015, Aug 27, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017
  18. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    Ideally, one day people will try to imagine why people even owned automobiles. The future will be cars on demand. Fully automated and available whenever you need to get somewhere. Just order one on your smartphone.
     
    #18 KennyGS, Aug 27, 2017
  19. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Assuming everyone defines "Ideally" the same way you do...as it relates of course. ;)
     
    #19 frodoz737, Aug 27, 2017
  20. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    I love the act of driving -- every aspect, except dealing with all the frustration. Ultimately, at the end of the day, driving is a pain in the nice person. So I say "ideally" in the sense of other benefits and freedoms it will bring.
     
    #20 KennyGS, Aug 27, 2017
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