Community Forums

FOLEYMECH · 10-04-2021, 05:49 PM

I gave up, sold my 03 MADP this year, got a 21 Dutchstar that has all that stuff in it, and I kinda like it getting used to it. Though my optiview dash just went blank. Using Xcite Rand Mcnally has a dash setting in there for the speedo pretty cool. Hey Dave what was the end result of your headlight upgrades? This new unit has beautiful Dodge Challenger halogen headlights screaming for an upgrade.

Rob_M · 10-05-2021, 04:13 PM

I would like a lot of the driver assist technology if the parameters / sensitivities were easily user adjustable.

Dav L · 10-06-2021, 11:36 AM

https://www.forbes.com/sites/samabue...h=262c84424179

Getting there....95% of the way there.

Foleymech - headlight mod works great. Huge difference. But haven't gotten too many miles in to appreciate nighttime driving. Possible a trip to Orlando in two weeks...I have to get the fresh water system automation mods reconnected and usable...
If you find your new headlights wanting, I am sure there will be complete retrofits for a Challenger lighting. Try theretrofitsource.com

FOLEYMECH · 10-10-2021, 09:04 AM

I will contact retrofit this week

ihc1470 · 10-10-2021, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dav L

It's just a matter of time that fully autonomous driving will be far safer than human.

Or it could become like this famous quote from the 1968 Science Fiction movie
"I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that." 2001 A Space Odyseey when we want to over ride something and the system will not allow it.

Not sure AI is going to be as rosy as is promised.

JHinman · 10-10-2021, 08:52 PM

I sure like the adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assist in my car. It makes driving long distances a little less tiring, even though one has to stay alert for the tone and HUD warning that it lost track of the lane. I can always override both assists with control inputs.

My brother has been driving truck for 35 years or more. All of the trucks in the fleet he drives for have adaptive cruise, and three Freightliners have lane-keeping assist also. He likes the lane-keeping assist, but some of the drivers do not.

I wonder if drivers complained about putting automatic transmissions in trucks? How about air conditioning? GPS? Power steering? Air brakes? They are all there to take the load off the driver too.

Rob_M · 10-11-2021, 06:55 AM

I have a question about the lane keeping assist.
Often times in road construction areas they change the lanes of traffic and it is re-striped for lane-shifts several times over as the construction / paving progresses. Sometimes the paint thats covering the old stripes wears off and the lines can be confusing unless you’re paying attention, could lead you into the other lane.
How will lane assist know which lines to follow?

JHinman · 10-11-2021, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob_M

I have a question about the lane keeping assist.
Often times in road construction areas they change the lanes of traffic and it is re-striped for lane-shifts several times over as the construction / paving progresses. Sometimes the paint thats covering the old stripes wears off and the lines can be confusing unless you’re paying attention, could lead you into the other lane.
How will lane assist know which lines to follow?

Sometimes the lane-keeping assist will get lost. My car will let me know with audible, visual, and haptic alerts that I need to take over momentarily.

It is an assist, not self-driving.

Headed east on the freeway on a wet/rainy morning, the glare makes it hard for me or the camera system to see the lane lines. Exits sometimes confuse the system, and construction zones and freeway cross-overs need manual steering.

In both my car and my wife’s SUV it is easy to over-ride the assisted steering by simply steering the car where we want to go. We feel a slight resistance as we leave the lane the car wants to follow, and after that we are on our own.

My car will change lanes by itself. When lane-keeping assist is on, a partial turn signal will blink the signal, check for interfering traffic, and then execute a lane change if it is safe to do so. (I still look first.)

Rob_M · 10-11-2021, 07:52 AM

So it works well for responsible drivers who pay attention.
I worry about irresponsible drivers who due to human nature will inevitably get even lazier and not pay as much attention as they should.
For instance,Texting and social media interaction is already a huge problem. Will driver assist actually help or will people (due to human nature) just feel safer to step up their distractions?

56safari · 10-11-2021, 08:37 AM

I own a car with lane assist and adaptive cruise. I have the lane assist adjusted so it merely beeps. Don't want anything tugging on the wheel when I don't expect it. The adaptive cruise is too slow to react and too aggressive when it does. Fortunately, the system can be turned off and returned to traditional cruise. Albeit it has to be done each time I start the car.

It took 7,000 miles, but finally did get a "put your hands on the wheel" warning and a shut down of the cruise control the other day. DIdn't know it, but the warning appears if the there is no steering input from the driver for 15 seconds. Just happened to be on a freshly paved road and apparently didn't make any steering input. This is a feature I like now that I know to expect it.

My big concern with all the driver's assist stuff is the gradual decline of driving skills from lack of practice. Hand eye coordination takes constant practice. Things like lane centering will reduce. if not eliminate, the daily practice that maintains skills. Golfers can relate to the loss of coordination when you don't play every day - takes a few swings to before things feel right and yield at least the "usual" result. Cruise control reduces physical fatigue and reduces the need to check your speed constantly, but it also reduces your ability to recognize gradual speed changes when driving.

Dav L · 10-11-2021, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob_M

I have a question about the lane keeping assist.
Often times in road construction areas they change the lanes of traffic and it is re-striped for lane-shifts several times over as the construction / paving progresses. Sometimes the paint thats covering the old stripes wears off and the lines can be confusing unless you’re paying attention, could lead you into the other lane.
How will lane assist know which lines to follow?

Different systems have different approaches, but they ALL look at actual driving situations (Lidar, infrared, cameras, etc) and THEN calculate what to do about it. ie: same way humans work but better / longer range / no need for visible light sensors.

That should be "obvious" because the system responds real time to other vehicles on the road ie: slows down when a car in front slows down as a simplistic example.

It's NOT just "what is on a map is where I can go". And it's NOT "change speed according to the MPH listed on a map".

But it is very complicated to create the algorithms that a real vehicle encounters and how to react under that dynamic situation. But the majority is done.

Tesla is now ready to sign up 1000 drivers for their "Full Driving" system upgrade to existing Tesla vehicles on the road. Still not "go to sleep and let it drive me there". Driver must still be attentive to take over. So not quite there yet but getting there.

As systems continue to advance (via software updates and / or hardware addons), the number of times a human needs to take over will decrease. Then with lots more time for testing / results, the human will be optional for driving and all will be passengers. JHinmann apparently has a system, but whatever that is, it's not a Full Driving system so it's more like "Super Cruise", unless it's a Tesla and he gets accepted to the Beta test.

shootist · 10-11-2021, 08:46 AM

I drove west out of idaho on the 12 yesterday, I watched a vw syncro van that could have really used some assist. I passed him but didn't see him behind me a few miles later. Hoped he stopped on his own and not because he blew over.

Rob_M · 10-11-2021, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 56safari

……….My big concern with all the driver's assist stuff is the gradual decline of driving skills from lack of practice. Hand eye coordination takes constant practice. Things like lane centering will reduce. if not eliminate, the daily practice that maintains skills.

Ditto !

Heck many people don’t know how to drive at a 4-way stop sign anymore, or turn without a green arrow indicating it’s ok, because traffic lights have spoiled them.

How many people can drive a std shift car any more?

56safari · 10-11-2021, 12:52 PM

Rob,

We actually had to drive a stick in driver's ed. Not every session, but you didn't get the certificate without demonstrating "adequate" skills.

I'll bet all of us commenting make a standard right turn without ever looking at the speedometer and if we did look, the speed is probably within 1-2 mph every time. That's the type of skill I'm afraid will be lost with all the assist systems.

Related story. Our daughter had to learn to drive a stick before we would let her get her license. But her car was an automatic, so she didn't do it much. Her car broke down and until I could get it fixed, let her use mine to get to work after school. Asked her to stop by an auto store to pick up a part. Her response, "can't Dad". Me "Why" Her " because it's on Hill!" Guess practice does help with confidence and skill.