Science Fiction Dictionary
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Latest By
Category:


Armor
Artificial Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work

"The trouble with too much genre SF is that it's so obviously the product of the conscious mind."
- William Gibson

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.
Technovelgy 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.

There are probably webcams in the headlight and brake light assemblies; you certainly hope your driver can see better than you can."

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.

Comment/Join this discussion ( 1 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |

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
  - 'Autonomous' Waymo Improves Driving With Remote Human Operators
  - Tele-Driving Offers Jobs For Tele-Drivers, Not AIs

Articles related to Vehicle
Tele-Driving Offers Jobs For Tele-Drivers, Not AIs
GM Scraps Cruise Origin Robotaxi With No Steering Wheel
GoSun EV Solar Charger Drapes Onto Your Car
'Autonomous' Waymo Improves Driving With Remote Human Operators

Want to Contribute an Item? It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add it here.

<Previous
Next>

Google
  Web TechNovelgy.com   

 

 

Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's   1950's
1960's   1970's
1980's   1990's
2000's   2010's

Science Fiction in the News

How Old Are Tesla Designs?
You be the judge.

Is Your Autonomous Tractor Safe?
'The field-minder finished turning the top-soil of a two-thousand-acre field.'

Smart TVs Are Listening!
'You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard...'

Police Drones In China Would Like To Have A Word With You
''OVERRIDE,' the City Fathers said suddenly, without being asked anything at all.'

Are The Thought Police Listening To Everyone All The Time?
'... they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to.'

Finally, Robot Conductors On Autonomous Buses
'Wardour Street,' he told the robot-conductor.'

RoboShiko! Sumo Exercises Still Good For Robots
'... the expressionless face before me was therefore that of the golem-wrestler, Rolem, a creature that could be set for five times the strength of a human being.'

Giant Robotic Hands At Gundam Next Future Science
'Waldo put his arms into the primary pair before him; all three pairs, including the secondary pair mounted before the machine, came to life.'

JWST Finds Bucking Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
'... the glittering little rocket bolted to the black iron behind him.'

More SF in the News

More Beyond Technovelgy

Home | Glossary | Science Fiction Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.