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"[Science fiction is] nightmares and visions, always outlined by the barely possible."
- Gregory Benford
 |
| Driverless Drones | ||
| One remote supervisor can drive a half-dozen drones, with some computer assistance. |
Halting State presents a completely doable version of the driverless vehicle.
| A fleet of driverless BMW SUVs appear, bouncing slowly over the traffic pillows and pull in next to you, flagrantly ingnoring the red route markings and security notices. They've got diplomatic plates. Doors spring open, and you find yourself gently inserted into the empty driver's seat of the third vehicle as Liz and the leader of the hit squad slide in the back. The steering wheel twitches hesitantly, then as the doors click shut it spins hard over and the yuppiemobile accelerates fast. You try not to shudder. You hate the whole idea that some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre has got your life - and half a dozen other lives - in his hands. At least on the motorways the cars steer themselves, that's within the capabilities of today's AI. |
| From Halting State,
by Charles Stross. Published by Ace in 2007 Additional resources -
|
A bit later on, you get some idea of what the drone supervisor has to see with.
Compare to the remote control taxicab from Philip K. Dick's 1957 novella The Unreconstructed M.
The idea of a car that can steer itself on special highways is seen in Robert Heinlein's 1941 novel Methuselah's Children; see the entry for Camden speedster.
Here's a quick list of articles demonstrating the progress that is being made towards the goal of driverless cars.
There are probably webcams in the headlight and brake light assemblies; you certainly hope your driver can see better than you can."
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Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Halting State
More Ideas
and Technology by Charles Stross
Tech news articles related to Halting State
Tech news articles related to works by Charles Stross
Driverless Drones-related
news articles:
- Ready For Your Halting State Driverless Drone Future?
- Uber's Robotics Plans Could Use Advice From SF Authors
- Einride Remote Operator Controls Multiple Vehicles
- 5G Will Be Crucial Backup For Self-Driving Cars
- Tesla Vs... Domino's? The Race For Autonomous Vehicles
- Einride Remote Pod Operators Control Multiple Pods
| Elon Musk: Production Of Robotaxis In 2024 |
| Autonomous Waymo Jaguar I-PACEs In San Francisco |
| When Will I Get My Unipod Gyro Balanced Personal Vehicle |
| Einride Remote Pod Operators Control Multiple Pods |
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'Scarif, the off-site backup of all the secret knowledge of the Empire
'Why must we travel ever faster in a seemingly insatiable desire to conquer space and time?'
'It was as if some invisible jet impinged upon them and flashed into white flame.'
'Electronic differentiation of the grotesque, as it says in the specifications - in man, a sense of humor.'
'And as the ball bulleted downward on a screaming slant, it shrank!'
'Hufhuf oil held in static tension... within a viewing tube...'
'The wings were at full spread-rest, their delicate metal interleavings extended.'
'A record that wouldn't get lost and couldn't be destroyed.'
